By Reinaldo Oliveros
Sep 27, 2024, 9:25 PM EDT
Shohei Ohtani set a new record in the first game against the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers slugger surpassed the record for most stolen bases for a Japanese player held by Ichiro Suzuki.
The Japanese achieved his 57th base this season, while Suzuki had set the mark in 2001 with the Seattle Mariners. They are the only two Japanese players who have managed to steal 50 or more bases in the same campaign.
Ichiro Suzuki had a .350 batting average with 242 hits, 8 home runs, 69 runs batted in, and 127 runs scored in 157 games in his rookie season in 2001.
He won his first Gold Glove award, his first Most Valuable Player award, the Rookie of the Year award and his first Silver Slugger award.
Ohtani could be on his way to his third Silver Slugger and his third MVP award, first in the National League.
Shohei Ohtani is hitting .305 with 190 hits, 53 home runs, 126 RBIs and 131 runs scored in 156 games this season. The Japanese has the most stolen bases in the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2014, when Dee Strange Gordon stole 64.
The record for most stolen bases will remain intact for a long time. Maury Willis stole 104 bases in 1962.
Shohei Ohtani can go for extra base hits record
Heading into the final regular series of the season, Ohtani can reach the 100 extra-base mark in a single season.
The Japanese came into this series at Coors Field in Colorado with 97 extra-base hits, just 3 out of 100, a number that no player has reached since 2001.
The Japanese has 53 home runs, 7 triples and 37 doubles this season. The last players to have 100 extra-base hits are: Barry Bonds, Todd Helton, Luis González and Sammy Sosa.
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