MLB
Shohei Ohtani edges closer to history with 49 stolen bases
The Japanese legend is getting closer to his first major league season with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases.
The Los Angeles Dodgers secured their 90th win of the 2024 season with a 9-4 victory over the Miami Marlins. In the process, Shohei Ohtani inched closer to achieving a historic milestone - becoming the first player in Major League history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season - by swiping his 49th base.
Ohtani singled in his first at-bat and stole second during Mookie Betts’ appearance at the plate. A poor throw from catcher Nick Fortes allowed Ohtani to advance to third. However, the Dodgers failed to score in the first inning, as Xavier Edwards singled Ohtani home after a Teoscar Hernández groundout.
Ohtani joins the 40-40 Club
The Dodgers’ designated hitter was unable to reach base again for the rest of the game. In the third inning, he popped out to Xavier Edwards. His next at-bat came in the fourth inning, where he struck out against Ryan Weathers. In the seventh, he hit a shot that was caught by Griffin Conine in right field. His final appearance of the night ended in a strikeout against Mike Baumann’s fantastic ball.
What Shohei Ohtani is on the verge of accomplishing is truly unique in Major League history. Reaching the milestone of 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases is an acheivement that only six players - including Ohtani - have achieved in the history of American baseball.
The first player to achieve the 40-40 milestone was José Canseco in 1988, with 42 home runs and 40 stolen bases. Eight years later, Barry Bonds matched Canseco’s numbers. The third player to join the club was Alex Rodriguez in 1998, also hitting 42 home runs, but stealing six more bases than his predecessors.
The new millennium saw another addition to this exclusive group in 2006, when Alfonso Soriano hit 46 home runs and stole 41 bases. The most recent member is Ronald Acuña Jr., who achieved the feat last year with 41 home runs and an impressive 73 stolen bases. Can Ohtani take it one step further?