The Big Lead

Shohei Ohtani's historic MLB season could be even more legendary

By Joe Lago

Sep 6, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) singles in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Sep 6, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) singles in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
facebooktwitter

Shohei Ohtani's 2024 season is already historic. No player in Major League Baseball history has ever reached the levels of power and speed with his 46 home runs, best in the National League, and 47 stolen bases, second only in the majors to Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz's 64 swipes.

Ohtani is not content. He's not settling. The Los Angeles Dodgers star designated hitter is pushing for numbers that would stand alone in baseball lore — 50-50 — with 50 homers and 50 steals.

RELATED: Ohtani deserves National League MVP despite loud Francisco Lindor campaign

If he hits four more home runs and steals three more bases, the 30-year-old baseball unicorn will be the charter member of a club that may remain singularly exclusive. And even if he doesn't achieve 50-50, the $700 million man has already produced dividends beyond the Dodgers braintrust's wildest dreams with production at the plate and on the base paths once thought to be unattainable.

“He’s very goal-oriented," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ohtani. “He likes to take down records.”

Going into Wednesday's series finale against the visiting Chicago Cubs, Ohtani has 17 games left to achieve a 50-50 campaign. Two days ago, FanGraphs listed his chances at 61.3 percent.

Ohtani isn't chasing history in vain. L.A. needs him to keep clubbing home runs and stealing bases just to make the postseason.

At 86-59, the Dodgers are only a game behind the Philadelphia Phillies for MLB's best record (and home-field advantage in the playoffs), but they hold tenuous leads in the NL West of just 4 1/2 games over the San Diego Padres and five games over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The close proximity of their division rivals, compounded by the Dodgers' ongoing injury issues, bolsters Ohtani's case for NL MVP over New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor.

In becoming the sixth member of MLB's 40-40 club, Ohtani made history as the fastest player to reach 40 home runs and 40 steals, needing only 126 games. However, his season — as well as the Dodgers' — will be defined by how he and his team perform in the postseason. With the club's $1 billion roster upgrade last offseason, it is World Series title or bust for L.A.

Individually, there's more that Ohtani can do for an encore in 2025. Sounds crazy? Actually, no it's not.

Next year, Ohtani should be sufficiently recovered from elbow surgery, so the right-hander will finally get to pitch for the Dodgers.

CHECK OUT MORE TOP STORIES FROM THE BIG LEAD!
NFL: Jerry Jones hints Dak’s contract will lead to Super Bowl
NBA: Russell Westbrook’s 3-point shooting destroyed by analyst
Sports Media: ESPN and NBC expressing interest in hiring Charles Barkley
Golf: 9/11 group criticizes PGA Tour, Saudi Arabia meetings in New York on anniversary of September 11 attacks