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Shohei Ohtani has made his mark in baseball history and will continue to redefine it with every home run and stolen base going forward.
His eighth-inning home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday marked a significant milestone as he became the first player in Major League Baseball history to achieve 43 home runs and 43 stolen bases in a single season. He followed up with home run number 44 at the start of Saturday night’s game.
Notably, Ohtani’s performance in August was exceptional.
According to OptaSTATS’ social media post on X (formerly Twitter), Ohtani hit 12 home runs and successfully stole 15 bases without being caught.
“No other player in MLB history has had both a 12-plus homer month and a perfect 15-for-15 steals month within a single month let alone their entire career.”
The month of August ended with a bang for Ohtani and the Dodgers. Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman kicked off Saturday’s game in Arizona with three consecutive solo home runs, a first-ever for the Dodgers in franchise history. The team took a 3-0 lead before recording an out.
Los Angeles secured the lead in the ninth inning after singles from Will Smith and Gavin Lux, as well as a sacrifice bunt from Kiké Hernández. With runners on second and third, Tommy Edman delivered a single to drive in two go-ahead runs.
“It was amazing,” said Edman, who came in as a pinch-hitter for Kiermaier in the sixth inning. “First big hit I’ve had with this team.”
Following the win and a loss for the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers now hold a six-game lead in the division. It was a thrilling way to wrap up the month.
Ohtani’s impressive month also earned him a spot alongside Willie Mays (Sept. 1956) as the only two players to lead their league in home runs and stolen bases during a month in the last 68 years:
Ohtani has shown remarkable consistency throughout the season, achieving an OPS of at least .850 each month. This stands out on a Dodgers team that has faced fluctuations in its lineup and pitching staff due to injuries and inconsistency.
The Dodgers eagerly anticipate seeing what the months of September and October have in store for their $700 million man.
Photo Credit: Owen Ziliak/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
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