Shohei Ohtani wants to be the greatest player to ever play this game, and the possibility of a 50/50 season is within reach. This unique milestone would not only solidify his legacy but also redefine expectations for future athletes.
On September 19, 2023, Ohtani underwent significant elbow surgery. Fast forward eleven months, and the two-time MVP found himself in a pivotal moment at Dodger Stadium on a Friday night. With two outs and the bases loaded in a tie game, he stood just one home run away from etching his name in the history books for the Dodgers.
Earlier that evening, he had already stolen his 40th base. Hitting a home run would make him the first player in Dodgers history to join the exclusive 40/40 club. Remarkably, no player in Major League Baseball had achieved this feat in fewer than 147 games, and only five players had done it at all.
This marked Ohtani’s 126th game of the season and the Dodgers’ 129th game.
“You could just sense that he felt that he was the right guy in the spot,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
He was not alone in this feeling.
In the clubhouse, pitcher Bobby Miller was wrapping up his post-start arm care routine. Having recently completed one of his best outings, he sensed the historic moment approaching as Ohtani prepared for a potential walk-off grand slam.
“Like, ‘How cool would this be?'” Miller reflected before Ohtani launched the first pitch he saw from Colin Poche deep into right-center field.
Initially, Roberts was uncertain whether Rays center fielder Jose Siri could track it down. Ohtani himself struggled to gauge if he had enough on the slider from Poche, which rocketed off his bat at 105.1 mph, traveling 389 feet into the night sky at Chavez Ravine. Ultimately, the ball cleared the fence, bouncing off a fan’s glove before rolling back onto the field, igniting a frenzy among the 45,556 fans in attendance.
“I always say you can’t script a game,” Roberts remarked. “But man, if there was a script, that couldn’t have been written any better.”
For a brief moment, Ohtani was uncertain if the ball had hit the fence or been caught. He watched the umpire signal a home run, then pointed skyward after reaching first base. His expression remained composed until he approached third base, where he celebrated with teammates, clapping his hands and tossing his helmet towards the Dodgers dugout.
After the game, Ohtani maintained his focus on the primary goal for the year: reaching the playoffs for the first time and contending for a World Series title. However, to those around him, it was clear that this achievement held significant meaning for the National League MVP frontrunner.
“He’s human,” Roberts acknowledged. “I think that he wants to be the greatest player to ever play this game. And when you start doing things like that, then you’re certainly staking your claim.”
This milestone had been in the making since spring training.
Aware of the 40/40 club before the season began, Ohtani, unable to pitch this year, sought alternative ways to contribute. He dedicated himself to working with first base coach Clayton McCullough and strength coach Travis Smith to enhance his speed on the basepaths.
This year, he is on track for nearly double that, having only been caught stealing four times.
“I know that he’s taken very good care of his legs to be able to do that and to be that dynamic player,” Roberts noted. “He’s doing his homework on opposing pitchers, really working hard on that, and he’s getting great jumps. You can see that he has become a more efficient base stealer. Early in the season, he was tentative, but now he’s an elite base dealer with a high success rate.”
In addition to his speed, Ohtani’s impressive statistics include 40 home runs, a .614 slugging percentage, and a .992 OPS, all leading the National League. He stands a chance to become the first primary designated hitter to win an MVP award.
His remarkable performance has the potential to alter the fate of his team.
Ohtani was named Rookie of the Year in 2018 and MVP in 2021. He finished fourth in Cy Young voting in 2022 and became the only player in MLB history to record at least 10 wins and 30 home runs in the same season. He claimed the MVP title again in 2023. Throughout this period, the Angels were never in contention as the calendar approached late August.
His sole chance to shine on a championship stage came during last year’s World Baseball Classic, where he excelled as both a hitter and pitcher, striking out teammate Mike Trout to clinch the title for Team Japan.
While he will not pitch in the playoffs this year, the 30-year-old phenom is poised to make an impact on MLB’s grandest stage.
The Dodgers envisioned extraordinary possibilities when Ohtani’s focus shifted entirely to hitting. Even Roberts could not have anticipated that the two-time MVP would perform at this level so quickly following elbow surgery.
“We played against him, and he was very good, but now, that’s the bet,” Roberts stated. “You’re playing for a championship-caliber team, with meaningful games in August and September. Moving forward is significant. That’s something he signed up for. So, you can expect better performances, and that’s exactly what’s happening.”
Achieving this individual milestone while contributing to a Dodgers team striving to maintain its dominance in a competitive division made Friday night especially memorable for Ohtani.
There is ample time for more achievements, even before October arrives.
Last year, Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves reached the 40/40 milestone, becoming the first player ever to achieve 40 home runs and 70 steals. While that mark may be out of reach for Ohtani, he has the opportunity to carve out his own legacy in the record books this season.
No player has ever recorded a 45/45 season before, but Ohtani is on pace for an astonishing 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases.
