Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani became the sixth player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club, hitting his 40th home run of the season dramatically with a walk-off grand slam Friday to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays.
MLB’s 40-40 club (Home runs and steals)
Player
Team
Homers
Steals
Year
Shohei Ohtani
Dodgers
40
40
2024
Ronald Acuña Jr.
Braves
41
73
2023
Alfonso Soriano
Nationals
46
41
2006
Alex Rodriguez
Mariners
42
46
1998
Barry Bonds
Giants
42
40
1996
Jose Canseco
Athletics
42
40
1988
Ohtani took the first pitch he saw from Rays left-hander Colin Poche deep to center field for the first walk-off home run of his MLB career.
“It’s really more about the winning,” Ohtani said afterward through an interpreter, according to Beth Harris of The Associated Press. “Obviously the record is part of the process but I think the most important thing is about winning the game.”
Ohtani reached 40 stolen bases in the fourth inning, taking second after a leadoff single. He reached the 40-40 club in a record 126 games, 21 contests faster than Soriano’s 147 in 2006.
The 30-year-old is on pace to finish the season with 51 home runs and 51 stolen bases, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. The 50-50 club is still looking for its first member in MLB history.
Ohtani is a strong favorite to win NL MVP in his first campaign with the Dodgers after signing a record $700-million contract in the offseason. He owns a .992 OPS with 75 extra-base hits, 97 runs scored, and 92 RBIs this year.
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