Shohei Ohtani, known for his dramatic flair, turned his Friday night home run into a legendary moment, ensuring it will be forever etched in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Ohtani launched a walk-off grand slam, marking his 40th home run of the season after successfully stealing his 40th base earlier in the game. He became just the sixth player in MLB history to achieve 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season, and he did it in record time.

“Forty-forty, same game, walk-off grand slam,” exclaimed Dodgers manager Dave Roberts following the game. “You can’t script a game better than this. It’s like a perfect plot. Shohei never fails to impress.”

It was a cinematic moment as fans cheered loudly and his teammates celebrated with him at home plate in Dodger Stadium, where Ohtani broke a 3-3 tie against the Tampa Bay Rays, leading the Dodgers to a 7-3 victory.

“This is definitely one of my most unforgettable moments, and I hope to create more,” Ohtani shared with reporters after the game. “I’m truly honored to be part of this history and it means a lot to me to do it in front of our home crowd.”

Ohtani, a strong candidate for his third MVP award, emphasized that while he is excited about joining the 40-40 club, the significance of his game-winning hit meant even more to him.

“My focus was on winning the game,” Ohtani stated.

Joining the ranks of legends like Ronald Acuna Jr. (41 home runs, 73 stolen bases), Alfonso Soriano (46 home runs, 41 stolen bases), Alex Rodriguez (42 home runs, 46 stolen bases), Barry Bonds (42 home runs, 40 stolen bases), and Jose Canseco (42 home runs, 40 stolen bases), Ohtani made history in only his 126th game, shattering Soriano’s previous record of 147 games set in 2006.

“I believe 40-40 was on his mind since spring training,” Roberts noted recently. “He aims to be the best player ever, and achieving something like this certainly helps solidify his legacy.”

Currently recovering from Tommy John surgery and only available as a designated hitter, Ohtani is showcasing his skills as a premier hitter. Only four other players have hit more than 35 homers this season, and among them, only New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge has more than five stolen bases. Only seven players in the major leagues have achieved at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases this season.

Ohtani’s remarkable speed sets him apart in what is being hailed as the greatest all-around season for a designated hitter. His stolen base total far exceeds the previous record of 22 set by Gary Sheffield in 2007 and also surpasses his own career high of 26 in 2021.

He is on track to potentially be the first player ever to finish a season with at least 45 home runs and 45 stolen bases. Who knows? Ohtani might even reach the legendary 50-50 club.

“I think he genuinely recognizes the value of stolen bases, knowing they can make a huge impact,” Roberts said. “This isn’t a surprise for me, especially as he’s now involved in a pennant race, which I don’t believe he’s experienced before in his MLB career. His increased focus is not a shocker.”

Ohtani is delivering one of the most remarkable offensive seasons in Dodgers history, ranking among the top five in the National League for home runs, extra-base hits, total bases, runs scored, walks, and stolen bases.

He is excelling in every category.

“He’s attempting to excel in every aspect,” Roberts said. “That’s what defines his greatness.”

Despite hitting just .198 in August, Ohtani has still managed to hit eight home runs and steal 12 bases this month. He was in the running for the Triple Crown until recently.

Even with a rough patch this month, he remains the favorite to secure his third MVP title, which would make him just the second player to win MVP awards in both leagues (the only other being Hall of Famer Frank Robinson).

Ultimately, however, Ohtani emphasizes that his primary goal is to capture that elusive World Series trophy.

“The main objective is to reach the postseason and win the World Series,” Ohtani stated. “I got a taste of victory when Japan won the World Baseball Classic in 2022, but winning the Dodgers’ first full-season World Series since 1988 in my debut year with the team would mean everything.”

“That’s the reason I play this game,” Ohtani said earlier this spring.

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