Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani stole his fiftieth base on Thursday towards the Miami Marlins, bringing him one step nearer to the primary 50-50 season in Main League Baseball historical past.
Ohtani stole third base within the first inning after main off the sport with a double towards Marlins pitcher Edward Cabrera.
Though he appeared to slip in behind the throw from catcher Nick Fortes, third baseman Connor Norby didn’t apply the tag in time.
The stolen base did greater than pad Ohtani’s stats. It put him in place to attain when the subsequent batter, Will Smith, hit a sacrifice fly to deep proper area to attain Ohtani and provides the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
Among the many 14 Dodgers who’ve stolen 50 bases in a season, Davey Lopes held the earlier document for probably the most dwelling runs, with 10 in 1974. Ohtani has 48 dwelling runs this season.
In 2007, Juan Pierre stole 64 bases for Los Angeles with out hitting a house run.
“Hitting 50 dwelling runs, that’s 50 much less instances you’ve received to do something on the bases,” Pierre lately advised The Athletic. He added with fun, “You virtually get jealous, like how might you be that quick after which hit the ball 500 toes? It’s simply not truthful, the issues he’s doing. He’s actually altering the sport.”
Previous to the sport, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned Ohtani’s aggressive method to stealing bases because the season progressed.
“I do see him being extra aggressive within the second half,” Roberts mentioned. “I feel he realized that he was on monitor to have a very particular season and what might make it a bit of bit extra particular and distinctive is including some extra stolen bases.”
“I feel Shohei’s realized how good of a base stealer he has change into, or can change into,” Roberts mentioned. “I feel he likes the problem of learning the pitchers, studying their tendencies.”
Roberts mentioned Ohtani’s means to get good jumps has change into his biggest attribute as a base-stealer. However it took some work.
“I don’t assume in years previous, watching him, I don’t assume he was an ideal base stealer,” Roberts mentioned. “I don’t assume he received nice jumps. However now after I watch him, particularly from the third-base dugout at dwelling the place I’ve an excellent visible of the pitcher and the runner, his jumps are on level.”
Ohtani additionally holds the Dodgers’ franchise document for probably the most stolen bases in a single season by a Japanese-born participant. The person whose document he broke? Roberts.
Picture Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
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