Shohei Ohtani has made a significant mark in Major League Baseball by becoming a member of the prestigious 40/40 club in record time. On Friday night, he hit a walk-off grand slam against the Tampa Bay Rays, securing his 40th home run of the season and achieving this milestone in just 126 games—making him the fastest player ever to reach this number. With this accomplishment, Ohtani not only became the first player in Los Angeles Dodgers history to join the 40/40 club, but he is also only the sixth player in MLB history to do so.
Before the game, Ohtani had already tallied 39 home runs and 39 stolen bases for the season. He stole a base in the fourth inning but went hitless in his next two at-bats. With the game tied and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Ohtani delivered a decisive hit, launching the first pitch from Colin Poche over the right-center fence to clinch a 7-3 victory for the Dodgers.
With over a month left in the season, Ohtani is on pace to potentially become the first player in MLB history to achieve 45 home runs and 45 stolen bases in a single season, raising the excitement around his historic campaign.
Throughout MLB history, notable players have joined the 40/40 club, including:
– 1988: Jose Canseco, Oakland Athletics: .307/.391/.569/.959; 42 HR, 40 SB. Canseco delivered the first 40/40 season, leading the American League in slugging and winning the MVP award while helping the Athletics to the World Series.
– 1996: Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants: .308/.461/.615/1.076; 42 HR, 40 SB. Bonds achieved this feat while struggling with team performance, as the Giants finished last in their division.
– 1998: Álex Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners: .310/.360/.560/.919; 42 HR, 46 SB. Rodríguez had a historic year, but his team’s poor performance affected his MVP voting result.
– 2006: Alfonso Soriano, Washington Nationals: .277/.351/.560/.911; 46 HR, 41 SB. Soriano set records with his accomplishments, yet also faced challenges due to team standings.
– 2023: Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves: .337/.416/.596/1.012; 41 HR, 73 SB. Acuña not only joined the 40/40 club but also established himself as the first member of the 40-70 club with his impressive season.
As Ohtani continues to excel, his recent performance could secure him a third MVP award, while paving the way for unprecedented achievements in baseball history.