Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani continued to create baseball history despite facing a potentially career-altering injury. The two-way sensation, known for his talent both on the mound and at the plate, has made his name in the game.
In a recent game on Sunday, Ohtani achieved a remarkable milestone, joining an exclusive group of baseball legends. He became only the eighth player in MLB history to record multiple seasons with 40 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
On Sunday Shohei Ohtani became only the 8th player in AL/NL history to have multiple 40 HR/20 SB seasons!
(MLB x @BudweiserUSA) pic.twitter.com/K6U4UH8UEa
— MLB (@MLB) September 4, 2023
This placed him in a group of icons like Hank Aaron, Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Jeff Bagwell, Ken Griffey Jr., and Alex Rodriguez. Hank Aaron, a Hall of Famer with the Atlanta Braves, started this extraordinary club in 1966, and it remained exclusive until Jose Canseco, of the Oakland Athletics, joined in 1991.
Five years later, Barry Bonds, of the San Francisco Giants, added his name to this list. Subsequently, Jeff Bagwell, Ken Griffey Jr., and Alex Rodriguez accomplished this achievement in 1999.
Putting Ohtani’s feat into perspective, only 22 players in MLB history have achieved a single season with 40 or more home runs and 20 or more stolen bases. Ohtani accomplished multiple times and is truly exceptional, with the last player to achieve it being Shawn Green in 2001 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
At just 29 years old and on the edge of potentially signing one of the most expensive contracts in baseball history he excels both as a pitcher and as a hitter. Currently, only Rodriguez, Bonds, and Canseco have achieved these numbers over three seasons or more, with Rodriguez leading the way with an impressive four such seasons in 1998, 1999, 2005, and 2007.
However, Ohtani’s career took a significant hit in August when he suffered a UCL tear in his throwing arm. This injury made him pull out from his pitching duties for the remainder of 2023 season and potentially all of 2024. Despite his health issues, Ohtani continues to prove his immense value to the Angels and the baseball world.
