The Dodgers have solely three seasons of at the very least 30 dwelling runs and 30 stolen bases in franchise historical past, and none since Matt Kemp in 2011. Up to now this yr, Shohei Ohtani is on tempo to take action, which might be unprecedented for a chosen ship. in main league historical past.
Ohtani stole a base within the sequence opener in opposition to the Rangers on Tuesday, and hit a house run in every of the primary two video games of that sequence. Within the season he’s tied for second within the Nationwide League with 17 dwelling runs and ranks eighth with 15 steals.
The 15 stolen bases are already greater than half of Ohtani's profession, trailing 26 luggage for the Angels in 2021. However the Dodgers nonetheless have two extra weeks till the center of this season. Ohtani's 15 steals this yr are already greater than the mixed totals of any Dodgers designated hitter (14) within the 633 video games the membership beforehand used a DH within the common season and postseason mixed via 2023.
Ohtani is on tempo for 40 dwelling runs and 35 steals. The latter could be a document for a chosen hitter, irrespective of the way you slice it.
For stolen bases really achieved as a DH in a season, Ohtani already holds the main league document. Twenty-five of his 26 steals in 2021 have been as a DH, which is yet one more than Paul Molitor in 1992 and two greater than Molitor in 1987. There are solely three different seasons during which a participant stole 20 bases as a DH – two are from Molitor (1993) and Ohtani (2023), plus Gary Sheffield in 2007.
Most steals from a main DH
| Participant | 12 months | SB | DH begins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant | 12 months | SB | DH begins |
| Paul Molitor | 1992 | 31 | 108 |
| Jose Canseco | 1998 | 29 | 78 |
| Tommy Harper | 1975 | 26 | 53 |
| Shohei Ohtani | 2021 | 26 | 126 |
| Hal McRae | 1976 | 22 | 116 |
| Don Baylor | 1978 | 22 | 102 |
| Paul Molitor | 1993 | 22 | 137 |
| Gary Sheffield | 2007 | 22 | 119 |
Supply: Baseball reference
Should you broaden a bit to gamers who’ve performed at the very least 50 % of their video games as a chosen hitter, Molitor holds the highest spot, with 31 steals for the Brewers in 1992. He’s the one main DH to steal 30 bases in a season. Throughout this season, Molitor began 108 video games at DH, and 48 instances at first base.
José Canseco got here shut for the Blue Jays in 1998, stealing 29 bases along with his 46 dwelling runs. He began 78 video games that season at DH for Toronto, and began 73 instances within the nook spots.
The one different designated hitters with at the very least 25 steals in a season have been Ohtani in 2021 (26 steals) and Tommy Harper, who stole 26 bases for the A's and Angels in 1975 whereas beginning 53 video games at DH, 28 video games at first base and 15 begins within the outfield.
It's been an total battle for Ohtani since he tore his hamstring on Might 16, getting hit at the back of the leg by an errant pickoff throw at first base. He's hit simply .209/.287/.418 in 23 video games since that harm, although maybe the 2 dwelling runs within the final two video games are indicators that he's not slowed by that harm.
Ohtani's baserunning hasn't been as properly restricted since hamstring contusions – out cruising into third base on a tripleby design, in Cincinnati on Might 25 — particularly since he stole a base just some pitches after getting hit by the pickoff hit on Might 16. He has 5 steals in 23 video games because the harm, a 35-steal tempo that matches what he has completed all season.
Even when we will take Ohtani's dwelling runs with no consideration — it could legitimately be disappointing if he didn't hit at the very least 30 this season — what he does on the bases shouldn't be neglected, at the very least in terms of steals, possibly not . so much about studying. The Dodgers have but to have a 30-steal season from somebody since 2014, for instance.
Ohtani is already essentially the most prolific Dodgers designated hitter in franchise historical past. However he can transfer up the main league charts in that regard this season.