Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani joined a special club of MLB superstars on Friday night when he hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs against the Tampa Bay Rays, FOX 11 reported.
The home run gave the Dodgers a 7-3 victory, and Ohtani became one of only five players in major league history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases, making him an elite player with that feat. Fox 11.
Ohtani came into the game needing one more home run and one more stolen base to make the team, and he stole a base in the fourth inning and hit a grand slam in the ninth against the Dodgers' 2020 World Series opponent, according to the outlet. (RELATED: Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. becomes first player to hit 40 home runs, steal 70 bases, establishes 40-70 club)
Shohei Otani joins the 40-40 club with a walk-off grand slam!!!
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/CHBmkMw25g
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 24, 2024
The Dodgers slugger reached a 40-40 record faster than anyone in major league history, accomplishing the feat in just his 126th game of the season. ESPN.
Famed Bash Brother Jose Canseco was the first 40-40 man in major league history, accomplishing the feat in 1988 with the Oakland Athletics, according to FOX11.
As ESPN reports, notorious Giants slugger Barry Bonds joined the club in 1996, followed by Alex Rodriguez with the Mariners in 1998 and Alfonso Soriano with the Washington Nationals in 2006, where he stole bases and slugged.
Atlanta Braves guard Ronald Acuna Jr. joined that elite group last season, hitting 41 home runs and stealing 73 bases, according to ESPN.
According to the media, Ohtani said through an interpreter, “Of course records are part of the process, but the most important thing is winning games.”
“It's just storybook. It went 40-40 on the same night,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “I don't know if anything like that's ever happened before, but he won a Grand Slam. He's definitely known for his dramatic plays, but this is one that will live long in the memory for me.”
According to a report from ESPN, Ohtani, who joined the 40-40 club with just over a month left in the season, is currently on pace to become the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases.
