It had long become clear Shohei Ohtani would make MLB history as becoming the fastest player to having a season with 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases.
But how the Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star would make franchise history by joining the 40-40 club couldn’t have been predicted. Ohtani stole his 40th base of the season on Friday night after reaching on an infield single in the fourth inning.
Then with the game tied and bases loaded in the ninth inning, Ohtani hit a walk-off grand slam to give him 40 homers this season. A fan in center field muffed the catch, and the baseball rolled back onto the field.
Siri rose to his feet after failing to come up with a leaping catch and threw Ohtani’s home run ball into the stands. According to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, Siri said he was not aware of that being Ohtani’s 40th home run that put him into the record books:
#Rays CF Jose Siri said he “had no idea” of the significance of the ball that #Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani hit for a walk-off grand slam to join 40-40 club Friday night. “We just got walked off,” Siri said. “I threw it to a fan.”
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) August 24, 2024
Ohtani found himself involved in a similar situation during April when a fan caught his record-setting 176th home run ball and decided to keep it. The home run was the 176th of Ohtani’s career, which allowed him to surpass Hideki Matsui for the most by a Japanese-born player in MLB history.
The ball was authenticated by an MLB official, which means the fan will likely be able to sell it for a sizable amount if that is the route they decide to take.
Another fan who caught Ohtani’s first home run with the Dodgers agreed to trade it back for a pair of autographed hats, an autographed bat and autographed baseball.
It’s not believed the home run ball that put Ohtani into the 40/40 club was authenticated. Thus, it shall remain a mystery — and essentially not have any value — even if a fan comes forward as claiming to be in possession of it.
Will Shohei Ohtani have 50-50 season?
Given his talent and amount of time remaining, it’s plausible Ohtani becomes the first player in MLB history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season.
A more likely scenario may be 45 and 45, which still would represent an MLB first.
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