Shohei Ohtani joins Babe Ruth in rare feat
Shohei Ohtani has made history by joining an exclusive group of baseball legends. On Sunday, he hit a massive 473-foot home run during the fifth inning of the Dodgers’ 9-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox. This marked his 120th hit and 30th home run of the 2024 season, achieved in just 97 games.
With this achievement, Ohtani becomes only the second left-handed hitter in Major League Baseball history to reach 120 hits and 30 home runs within their first 100 games with a team. The only other player to accomplish this feat is Babe Ruth, who did it in his first 94 games with the New York Yankees.
Ohtani’s impressive stats for the season include 120 hits, 78 runs, 30 home runs, 70 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases, with a batting line of .315/.401/.638. He ranks among the top six in several categories, including fourth in batting average and runs, and second in home runs and slugging percentage. Ohtani is currently leading the National League in home runs, making him a strong candidate for the NL MVP award.
Despite not pitching this season due to a torn UCL in his right elbow, Ohtani has continued to be a vital contributor to the Dodgers, especially as the team navigates injuries to key players like Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. His value is reflected in his 5.4 WAR, ranking fifth in MLB and first in the National League.
