Shohei Ohtani has made history with a remarkable performance in August, solidifying his status as one of baseball’s elite players. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ star hit his 43rd home run and stole his 43rd base this season, becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history to achieve this milestone in a single season. Ohtani didn’t stop there; he quickly added his 44th home run in the first inning of Saturday’s game. August was particularly impressive for him, as he recorded 12 home runs and stole 15 bases without being caught. This achievement is unprecedented, as no player has ever had a month with both 12 or more home runs and a perfect record in stolen bases per a post on X from OptaSTATS. In August, the @Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani hit 12 home runs. He also stole 15 bases without being caught.
No other player in MLB history has had both a 12+ homer month and a month going 15-for-15 or better on steals over the course of his entire career (let alone in the same month). pic.twitter.com/wCcTSkq8zr — OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 1, 2024 The Dodgers capped off the month with an explosive start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, as Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman hit back-to-back-to-back home runs to open the game. This marked the first time in franchise history that the Dodgers began a game with three consecutive home runs, quickly putting them ahead 3-0.
Despite the early lead, the Diamondbacks fought back, taking the lead in a back-and-forth contest. The Dodgers ultimately secured an 8-6 victory, thanks to key hits from Will Smith and Gavin Lux, along with a crucial sacrifice bunt from Kiké Hernández. Tommy Edman then delivered a two-run single, sealing the win for Los Angeles. Ohtani’s performance in August not only led the league in home runs and stolen bases but also made him the first player to lead both categories in the same month since Willie Mays did so in September 1956.
The NL HR leader for August: Shohei Ohtani (12) The NL SB leader for August: Shohei Ohtani (15) He’s the first MLB player to lead his league outright in both homers and steals in the same month since Willie Mays did it in September 1956 (11 HR, 9 SB). pic.twitter.com/FZbJ40T1Ls — OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 1, 2024 As the league prepares to announce the Player of the Month awards, it’s clear that Ohtani’s contributions have been nothing short of extraordinary. Copyright 2024 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights
