If you run, you win. The “$700 million man” Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) is on pace to reach a milestone that only five players in Major League Baseball history have achieved.
Ohtani started at No. 2 in the lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 22 and went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. The Dodgers lost the game 3-7, but Ohtani's performance was a highlight.
Ohtani struck out swinging in his first at-bat in the first inning against Arizona starter Brandon Pham. But in the fourth inning, he led off with a double and then stole third base one out later on a wild pitch by Will Smith. The Arizona catcher was stunned by the unexpected steal, and Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno's throw to third fell into the outfield, allowing Ohtani to slide home.
Down 4-1 in the sixth, Ohtani hit a single to right field from Potts, stole second on 토토사이트 Freddie Freeman's at-bat and scored on Smith's double. In his final at-bat of the eighth, he flied out to right field.
After the game, Ohtani was batting .356 with 13 home runs and 34 RBIs this season. His slugging percentage is 0.425, his on-base percentage is 0.655, and his OPS (slugging percentage plus on-base percentage) is 1.080. Notably, Ohtani has also stolen 13 bases in 13 attempts, all of which have been successful, for a 100% success rate.
Ohtani is currently on pace to hit 40+ home runs and stolen bases. If he maintains this pace through the end of the season, he'll join only five other players who have achieved the feat: Jose Canseco in 1988 (42 home runs and 40 stolen bases), Barry Bonds in 1996 (42 home runs and 40 stolen bases), Alex Rodriguez in 1998 (42 home runs and 46 stolen bases), Alfonso Soriano in 2006 (46 home runs and 41 stolen bases), and Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023 (41 home runs and 73 stolen bases).
If he can hit 40 homers and 40 doubles, Ohtani will also have a shot at the Designated Hitter MVP award, which has never been won in Major League Baseball history. Even if his lack of defensive contributions is a weakness, his offensive production is too good to ignore and his record is one of the rarest in major league history.
No comments yet