Shohei Ohtani continues to elevate his legendary status in Major League Baseball by setting yet another remarkable milestone. On Friday night, Ohtani showcased his incredible skillset by becoming the fastest player in MLB history to join the prestigious 40-40 club-
achieving 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season.
The Japanese superstar accomplished this feat in the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ thrilling 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Ohtani‘s night was highlighted by a dramatic ninth-inning grand slam, which marked his 40th home run of the season.
This came after he had already swiped his 40th base earlier in the game, solidifying his place among the game’s elite. He reached this milestone in just 126 games, the quickest any player has ever done so in the history of Major League Baseball. This surpasses the previous record held by Alfonso Soriano, who achieved the 40-40 feat in 148 games back in 2006.
“It’s really more about the winning,” Ohtani said after the game. “Obviously the record is part of the process but I think the most important thing is about winning the game.”
First Dodgers to achieve this feat
In joining the 40-40 club, Ohtani becomes the first Dodgers player to ever reach this milestone. His towering 389-foot homer broke a 3-3 tie, sending the Dodger Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
Despite the historic nature of the hit, Ohtani was left without the keepsake, as Rays center fielder Jose Siri inadvertently threw the ball into the stands after it bounced back onto the field.
Ohtani’s game-changing performance didn’t go unnoticed by his teammates, with many celebrating his achievement. In a fitting tribute, Miguel Rojas and Teoscar Hernandez showered him with water on the field, while the crowd of over 45,000 fans gave him a standing ovation.
This historic accomplishment places Ohtani alongside a select group of MLB legends, including Ronald Acuna Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, and Jose Canseco, all of whom have reached the 40-40 milestone. Acuna, the most recent addition to the club before Ohtani, had a standout season last year with 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases.
