With walk-off SLAM, Ohtani becomes fastest to join 40-40 club
Even when he’s not playing both ways, Shohei Ohtani is still accomplishing the unprecedented in jaw-dropping fashion.
Ohtani hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to become the sixth member of baseball’s 40-40 club, lifting the Dodgers to a thrilling come-from-behind 7-3 victory over the Rays on Friday night at Dodger Stadium
Ohtani launched a 389-foot home run off Rays left-hander Colin Poche over the wall in right-center for the milestone homer, lifting the Dodgers to their fifth straight win. He notched his 40th stolen base in the fourth inning to set himself up for the historic finish.
Shohei Ohtani’s 40th stolen base
“One of my top memorable moments,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “I hope that I can do more and make more memorable moments.”
Ohtani made even more history by reaching the 40-40 mark faster than anyone in history, with the feat coming in his 126th game of the season, besting the previous mark by 21 games.
Shohei Ohtani, 2024 Dodgers: 126th game (129th team game)
Alfonso Soriano, 2006 Nationals: 147th game (148th team game)
Jose Canseco, 1988 A’s: 151st game (154th team game)
Ronald Acuña Jr., 2023 Braves: 152nd game (154th team game)
Alex Rodriguez, 1998 Mariners: 153rd game (153rd team game)
Barry Bonds, 1996 Giants: 158th game (160th team game)
After going 17 years without a 40-40 season from an MLB player, it’s now happened in consecutive years for the first time. Ohtani’s entry into the club follows Acuña, who joined last season in an MVP campaign that included 41 homers and 73 stolen bases — the most swipes ever by a member of the 40-40 club.
Should Ohtani go on to capture the NL MVP Award, it will also be the first time the honor has gone to a 40-40 member in consecutive seasons. The only other player to win an MVP in a 40-40 season was Canseco of the A’s in 1988.
“I think that he wants to be the greatest player to ever play this game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ohtani. “And when you start doing things like that, then you’re certainly staking your claim.”
