Bob NightengaleUSA TODAY
Shohei Ohtani, who has always had a flair for the dramatic, turned his home run Friday night into a Hollywood script, making sure it will be remembered forever in Los Angeles Dodgers history.
Ohtani joined the prestigious 40-40 club by hitting a two-out, walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning, his 40th homer of the season after stealing his 40th base in the fourth inning. He became only the sixth player in history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season, and was the quickest to accomplish the feat.
“Forty-forty, same game, walk-off grand slam,’’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “I always say you can’t script a game. But, man, if there was a script, that couldn’t have been written any better.
“Shohei just never ceases to amaze.’’
It indeed was a scene right out of Hollywood with the crowd screaming and his teammates celebrating with him at home plate at Dodger Stadium after Ohtani broke a 3-3 tie with the Tampa Bay Rays, giving the Dodgers a 7-3 victory.
“It was one of my most memorable moments, hopefully I can make more memorable moments,’’ Ohtani told reporters after the game. “I’m extremely honored I’m part of this history. …. It means a tremendous amount me doing it in front of the home crowd.’’
Ohtani, the favorite to win his third MVP award, says that while he was thrilled to join the prestigious 40-40 club, the feat meant much more to him knowing it was the game-winning hit.
“I was really focused on winning the game,’’ Ohtani said.
Ohtani joins Ronald Acuna Jr. (41 homers, 73 stolen bases), Alfonso Soriano (46 homers, 41 stolen bases), Alex Rodriguez (42 homers, 46 stolen bases), Barry Bonds (42 homers, 40 stolen bases) and Jose Canseco (42 homers, 40 stolen bases) in the prestigious 40-40 club.
He accomplished the feat in just his 126th game, breaking the previous record of 147 games set by Soriano in 2006.
“I do think 40-40 is something that was on his radar from spring training,” Roberts said recently. “He wants to be the greatest player to ever play the game, and when you do something like that, you’re certainly staking your claim.’’
Ohtani, who’s recovering from Tommy John surgery and limited only to DH duties, is showing the baseball world just what he can do as a full-time hitter. Only four other players have hit at least 35 homers this season, and of that group only New York Yankees star Aaron Judge has stolen more than five bases. There are only seven players in the majors with at least 20 homers and 20 steals this season.
Ohtani’s speed has set him apart from the pack in what has become the greatest all-around season by a DH in history. His stolen base total is almost double the most by any DH ever (22 by Gary Sheffield in 2007) and the most in Ohtani’s career, surpassing the 26 he had in 2021.
He could also become the first player in history to hit at least 45 homers and steal 45 bases in the same season. And who knows? Ohtani could even become the charter member of the 50-50 club.
“I think he has bought into stealing bases, understands the value of the stolen base, getting 90 feet,” Roberts said. “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.”
Ohtani certainly is producing one of the greatest all-around offensive seasons in Dodgers history, ranking in the top five in the National League in homers, extra-base hits, total bases, runs, walks and stolen bases.
You name it, he’s doing it.
“He’s trying to dominate on every margin,” Roberts said. “That’s what makes him great.”
Ohtani, who was flirting with the Triple Crown until recently, has struggled in August, hitting .198. Still, he has eight homers and 12 stolen bases this month.
Even with his August swoon, he’s heavily favored to win his third MVP award. He would become just the second player to win the MVP in each league (Hall of Famer Frank Robinson is the only man to do it).
Yet, most important to Ohtani, he says, is that coveted World Series trophy.
“The number one goal is to get to the postseason,’’ Ohtani said, “and win the World Series.’’
He got a taste of that feeling in 2022 when Japan won the World Baseball Classic, but to win the Dodgers’ first World Series in a full season since 1988 — in his first year with the club — would mean absolutely everything to him.
“That’s why I play the game,’’ Ohtani said this spring.
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