Shohei Ohtani Makes History with 40/40 Milestone and Walk-Off Grand Slam

Last updated on September 12th, 2024 at 12:16 pm

Shohei Ohtani has made history by joining the exclusive 40/40 club in a spectacular way. On Friday, Ohtani hit a walk-off grand slam to lead the Dodgers to a 7–3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented that Ohtani seemed to feel he was meant for that moment. Ohtani needed just one stolen base and one home run to reach 40/40, and he achieved both during this game. The dramatic finish came with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Ohtani’s 105-mph fly ball hit off two fans before being confirmed as a home run.

This makes Ohtani the first player in Dodgers history to achieve 40/40 and the fastest in MLB to do so, reaching the milestone in just 129 games. The previous record was held by Alfonso Soriano, who accomplished it in 148 games.

Rhys Hoskins Hits Big Home Run, Giving Brewers Hope

Ohtani is now part of a rare group of players who have hit 40 home runs and stolen 40 bases in a single season. The others are Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, and Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ohtani also set a new career high with 40 stolen bases, surpassing his previous record of 26 set in 2021. He credits his success to good communication with coaches and a proactive approach on the basepaths. With 33 games left in the season, he might even reach the 50/50 mark, which has never been achieved before.

Miller’s Progress and Current Stand:

Meanwhile, Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller showed progress by completing six innings for the first time since June 19. He struck out nine batters, including the last four he faced. Despite allowing two home runs and three earned runs, Miller felt more confident after this performance, which was a mental boost for him.

The Dodgers hold a 77–52 record. Clayton Kershaw will start the next game against Tampa Bay’s Taj Bradley. The Dodgers’ lead in the National League West is four games, thanks to a win by the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Boston Red Sox.