Shohei Ohtani’s first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers goes nearly in addition to anybody may have anticipated, and his constant dominance on the plate has been a driving power for a crew that has been decimated by accidents to each its pitching employees and its lineup.
He’s the present betting favourite to change into the primary designated hitter to win an MVP award, and it’s due to a historic tempo that has him projected to be the primary participant to perform a formidable statistical feat.
The Athletic identified how Ohtani is on tempo to change into the primary participant in MLB historical past to hit 45 dwelling runs and steal 45 bases in the identical season, with Fabian Ardaya writing, “He’s trying to dominate on every margin” in a current article.
Shohei Ohtani is on tempo to change into the primary participant in MLB historical past to have a 45-45 season.
“He’s trying to dominate on every margin.”@FabianArdaya examines Ohtani remaking himself as a base stealer ⤵️https://t.co/4KF6Vt1fh8 pic.twitter.com/1hllFEJxEd
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 16, 2024
Ardaya added, “The power was a given. The speed was coming. And even in a year where Shohei Ohtani’s not pitching, his assault on the record book continues.”
Solely 5 gamers in MLB historical past are within the 40-40 membership: Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano and Ronald Acuna Jr.
Rodriguez’s 46 steals in 1998, Soriano’s 46 homers in 2006, and Acuna’s 73 steals in 2023 had been the one cases of a participant placing up greater than 45 homers or steals in a 40-40 season, as all 5 gamers cleared the 40-40 mark simply barely in at the least one of many two classes.
Ohtani is at present on tempo for 49 homers and 46 steals, so attending to 40-40 needs to be simple at his present tempo.
If he actually pushes it, he has a authentic shot at turning into the primary participant within the 50-50 membership.
