Home runs are regular occurrences for Shohei Ohtani, but a blast in Friday’s win over the Arizona Diamondbacks was particularly significant for the Los Angeles Dodgers star.
That’s because, with an eighth-inning homer, Ohtani became the first MLB player with 43 home runs and 43 stolen bases in the same season. He achieved his 43rd stolen base in the second inning, taking second base.
Ohtani was already the first Dodger to join the 40-40 club, achieving the feat in a record 126 games. Alex Rodriguez was previously the only MLB player to reach 42 homers and 42 stolen bases in a season.
THE 1/1 OF THE 43/43!
Shohei Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to hit 43 home runs and steal 43 bases in the same season 🤯
🎥 @MLBpic.twitter.com/JOsB9uF7Rs
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 31, 2024
The 30-year-old Ohtani has 11 games this season with at least one homer and one steal, which is two behind the single-season MLB record held by Rickey Henderson.
“I think he has bought into stealing bases, understands the value of the stolen base, getting 90 feet,” Roberts said earlier this season. “Hasn’t surprised me. I think it’s welcome for me, for him, because he’s in a pennant race now. And I don’t think he’s been in a pennant race in his big-league career. So his enhanced focus is not a surprise to me.”
The two-way star is in his first season with the Dodgers after signing a record 10-year, $700 million deal. Although he’s not pitching this season, he’s invested time in learning the nuances of the running game, working with first-base coach Clayton McCullough to break down the art of base stealing.
This will be updated.
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(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
