While Shohei Ohtani hasn’t pitched this year after undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery last fall, he has found another area of the game in which he could excel while terrorizing opposing pitchers. The 30-year-old superstar blew past his previous career high in stolen bases in late July, and on Friday night against the Rays he swiped his 40th bag of the year. Five innings later, he collected his 40th home run to join the 40-40 club in spectacular style, when he clobbered a first-pitch, walk-off grand slam. Unfortunately, Ronald Acuña Jr.’s torn ACL deprived him of a chance to follow up last year’s unprecedented combination of 41 homers and 73 steals, but it’s not out of the question we could have another 40-40 player this season, namely José Ramírez, and at least a couple more 30-30 ones.
I’ll get to those, but first, it’s Sho time. Prior to this year, Ohtani had reached 40 homers twice (46 in 2021 and a league-leading 44 last year) but had stolen just 20 bases or more twice (26 in 2021 and 20 last year). Unburdened by the demands of pitching this year, and playing for a new team with much higher aspirations than the Angels, he’s been able to withstand more wear and tear on his legs, has had more time to study opposing pitchers, and has come to appreciate the extra dimension he can add to his new team.
“I think he has bought into stealing bases, understands the value of the stolen base, getting 90 feet,” manager Dave Roberts told The Athletic earlier this month. “He’s in a pennant race now. And I don’t think he’s been in a pennant race in his big-league career. So his enhanced focus is not a surprise to me.”
“I think now with having less on his plate from a preparation standpoint and the pitching, more focus can be put on it,” first base coach Clayton McCullough told The Athletic. “His eye for things has been impressive”
According to Statcast, Ohtani’s sprint speed ranks in the 72nd percentile, which is actually the second-lowest mark of his career; he’s been as low as the 63rd percentile (2023) and as high as the 92nd (in his brief ’20 campaign), or the 90th (’21) if you limit the comparison to full seasons. It’s clear that he can motor, and not only has he been prolific for a team that hasn’t had such a base-stealing threat in awhile — Dee Strange-Gordon was the last Dodger to steal at least 40 bases (64 in 2014) — he’s been efficient, getting caught just four times. In fact, the only Wild Card-era Dodger with a higher rate of success in a season with at least 30 attempts is Roberts himself, who had a 97.1% success rate (33 steals, one caught) in 2004. Overall, Ohtani leads the NL in homers and is second in stolen bases. His baserunning (including advancements) has been worth 5.7 runs above average, up 3.2 from last year, his previous career high, and fifth in the majors.
As for his big night on Friday, Ohtani’s stolen base came after he legged out an infield single in the fourth inning. Catcher Rob Brantly dropped the pitch and didn’t even get off a throw. The homer followed a walk to pinch-hitter Max Muncy to load the bases; needing to throw a strike, Colin Poche left a slider in Ohtani’s wheelhouse.
