Shohei Ohtani made history on Friday with a walk-off grand slam to become the first Dodgers player to join the 40/40 club, hitting his 40th home run and stealing his 40th base in the same game. This milestone, achieved in only 126 games, puts Ohtani on track to potentially have a 45-45 season, a feat no player has accomplished before. While Ohtani did not set out with a specific focus on reaching the 40/40 club, his exceptional talent and hard work led him to this achievement, surpassing records and expectations along the way.
Ohtani’s success on the basepaths this season has been a result of his dedication to learning the art of base stealing. Working closely with first-base coach Clayton McCullough, Ohtani has honed his skills in identifying pitcher tells and optimizing his jumps. In addition to his prowess on the basepaths, Ohtani’s power at the plate has been equally impressive, with this being his third 40-home run season and on track to potentially hit 50 home runs by the end of the season.
Despite a quieter month at the plate in August, Ohtani remains a formidable force in the home run race, trailing only Aaron Judge among the league’s leaders. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani’s exceptional talent and work ethic, noting that the ball comes off Ohtani’s bat like nothing he’s ever seen before. As Ohtani continues to rewrite the record books in his first season with the Dodgers, his impact on the game of baseball is undeniable.
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