Shohei Ohtani’s inaugural season with the Los Angeles Dodgers has been a resounding success, despite a minor scandal. This was further solidified on Saturday when the designated hitter stole his 29th, 30th, and 31st bases of the season in a commanding 10-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics. With 33 home runs already under his belt, Ohtani achieved his first 30-30 season in his career.
This accomplishment marks the fourth 30-30 season in Dodgers history, with previous players including Matt Kemp in 2011 and Raul Mondesi in 1997 and 1999. According to MLB.com’s David Adler, Ohtani became the third-fastest player in AL/NL history to achieve this feat, falling just one game short of matching Alex Rodriguez for second place.
1. Eric Davis, 1987 Reds — 90 games played
2. Alex Rodriguez, 1998 Mariners — 107 games played
3. Shohei Ohtani, 2024 Dodgers — 108 games played
4. Bobby Bonds, 1973 Giants — 108 games played
5. Jose Canseco, 1988 A’s — 110 games played
Ohtani’s exceptional performance at the plate, going 2-for-5, contributed to a victorious night for the Dodgers. Despite a recent string of losses, the team managed to maintain a four-game lead in the NL West. Trade deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty also had a successful debut, pitching six scoreless innings and striking out seven.
Shohei Ohtani’s MVP case is shaping up nicely
Despite starting the season in recovery from elbow surgery, Ohtani’s increased base-running performance has compensated for his inability to pitch until 2025. Surpassing his career high in stolen bases with 31, Ohtani’s speed on the basepaths has been a noteworthy development since joining the Dodgers.
“Obviously, he wasn’t going to be a pitcher this year,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He was really focusing with [vice president of player performance] Brandon McDaniel and his staff, and keeping his body in a good spot to use his legs. He was really excited about being able to run free. You obviously knew he was going to hit homers.”
Currently leading the NL in home runs and second only to Aaron Judge for the MLB lead, Ohtani is also third in stolen bases and boasts a batting average of .309/.400/.627. Additionally, he leads the league in runs scored with 84.
Advanced stats further support Ohtani’s impressive season, with Baseball Reference calculating his WAR at 5.9, the highest in the NL. Fangraphs also favors his performance.
While winning MVP as a designated hitter is challenging, Ohtani has undeniably been the standout hitter in the league this season, serving as a pillar for a Dodgers lineup plagued by injuries to key players like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy. Despite these setbacks, the Dodgers maintain the second-best record in the NL.
All signs point towards a strong case for Ohtani to clinch the NL MVP award, which would mark his third MVP win and place him alongside Frank Robinson as the only players to achieve this honor in both leagues.
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