by Megan Garcia
Shohei Ohtani is a threat whenever he puts on the Dodger uniform. Whether he’s in the batter’s box or on the basepaths, he can instantaneously change a game — or history.
Ohtani joined the exclusive 40/40 club with a walk-off grand slam, propelling the Dodgers to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7–3 on Friday at Dodger Stadium.
“You could just tell he sensed he was the right guy in the spot,” manager Dave Roberts said.
https://medium.com/media/83768358cb884ca955e6d6b97f8f01a5/href
That Ohtani would reach 40/40 was all but inevitable. He needed one stolen base and one home run to be anointed into the club entering the series opener.
That the moment would come so dramatically was something else entirely.
The bases were loaded in a 3–3 game with two outs when Ohtani stepped up to the plate against Colin Poche in the bottom of the ninth. Ohtani later said wasn’t thinking about the 40/40 club when he walked up to the plate in that situation.
“A walk was fine,” Ohtani said. “I was trying to get on base.”
He did so, and then some. Chavez Ravine erupted when the 105-mph fly ball ricocheted off two fans behind the centerfield wall and was signaled a home run.
https://medium.com/media/e77f5b226b7de277f67b89810be79a29/href
The two-way star is the first player in franchise history to join the 40/40 club. He’s also the fastest player in MLB history to accomplish the feat, hitting the mark in only 129 team games. Washington Nationals slugger/speedster Alfonso Soriano set the previous record in 2006 (148 games).
“He wants to be the greatest player who’s ever played this game,” Roberts said of Ohtani. “When you start doing things like that, you’re certainly staking your claim.”
Only five other players in MLB history have recorded a season with 40 or more home runs and stolen bases:
· 1988: Jose Canseco (Oakland) — 42 home runs/40 stolen bases
· 1996: Barry Bonds (San Francisco) — 42 home runs/40 stolen bases
· 1998: Alex Rodriguez (Seattle) — 42 home runs/46 stolen bases
· 2006: Alfonso Soriano (Washington) — 46 home runs/41 stolen bases
· 2023: Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta) — 41 home runs/73 stolen bases
https://medium.com/media/611469e44abfcfaa3ea6966c2261923f/href
Forty stolen bases are a new career high for Ohtani. His previous record was 26 stolen bags in 2021 when he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
But with the Dodgers, Ohtani is running at a record pace.
“It’s really being able to have open communication with the coaches,” Ohtani said. “Having an aggressive approach on the basepaths and making sure I’m utilizing my running ability.”
The 50/50 mark has never been reached, but with 33 games left in the season, it may not be out of reach for Ohtani.
“I think with this guy (and) over a month left in baseball,” Roberts said. “I think anything is possible.”
Miller Shows Progress
Bobby Miller completed six innings for the first time since June 19, retiring the last six batters he faced and striking out the final four.
He surrendered two home runs to Tampa Bay’s №3 and №4 hitters, 21-year-old third baseman Junior Caminero and designated hitter Christopher Morel. Overall, Miller struck out nine batters — his second-highest tally in a start this season — while giving up three earned runs on seven hits.
“I’ve felt a lot of weight on my shoulders recently,” Miller said. “It’s been really tough mentally lately, but that was a huge confidence booster for me. They’re a pretty good lineup, too.”
https://medium.com/media/94bcdd552757eb937feefa2385b0936c/href
The right-hander has seen less time on the mound this season due to injury. His top priority for the remainder of the season is to find his footing after sporting a 7.49 ERA in 39 2/3 innings.
Miller posted a 3.76 ERA in 124 1/3 innings through 22 starts in 2023.
Where They Stand
The Dodgers are 77–52. Clayton Kershaw (2–2) will make his sixth start of the season against Tampa Bay’s Taj Bradley (6–8) for the second game of the series. Arizona beat the Boston Red Sox, keeping the Dodgers’ lead in the National League West to four games.
Shohei Ohtani joins the 40/40 club in grand fashion was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.