Another day, another record for the LA Dodgers’ superstar Shohei Ohtani. In a 4-11 win over the Colorado Rockies, Ohtani stole his 57th base of the 2024 season, surpassing legendary Ichiro Suzuki’s single-season record for most stolen bases by a Japanese-born player.
Suzuki had 56 stolen bases in 2001, his rookie season in MLB, in which he also won the AL MVP honors as a member of the Seattle Mariners.
Ohtani broke Suzuki’s record in the second inning of the Rockies’ game following an RBI single hit.
Ohtani previously became the first player in MLB history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. He can add several other achievements to his resume before the season wraps up, something his manager, Dave Roberts, is hoping to see.
“He’s had a tremendous season,” Roberts said. “When you get to the one-yard line on certain statistics, whether it’s a potential Triple Crown, a 60-60, whatever it might be, stealing 60 bases, you want to try to get there as best you can.”
Ohtani currently has 54 home runs and 130 RBIs in 2024, both comfortable leads among NL players. He now needs to improve his batting average in order to get the Triple Crown. Ohtani is currently at .309, while San Diego Padres’ Luis Arraez is leading the NL with a batting average of .312.
