DENVER — With the division and a first-round bye secured, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reemphasized the green light for Shohei Ohtani during the superstar’s prolific season. If Ohtani has a chance at rounding out his already eye-popping numbers, Roberts said, go for it.
It took just a couple of innings at Coors Field for Ohtani to eclipse at least one mark: In executing the back end of a run-scoring double steal, Ohtani slid in safely with his 57th steal of 2024 to surpass Ichiro Suzuki for the most in a single season by a Japanese-born player.
“It is surprising given Ichiro’s footspeed and being a dynamic base stealer,” said Roberts, who ranks third on that list with 49. “But, shoot, man, Shohei is taking down a lot of records.”
Suzuki’s rookie campaign in 2001 marked a bellwether for Japanese position players finding success in Major League Baseball. He compiled 56 steals en route to Rookie of the Year and MVP honors.
“He is somebody I admire and look up to,” Ohtani said this week through interpreter Will Ireton.
Many Japanese-born success stories have emerged since. None have had a season quite like Ohtani’s first with the Dodgers: the fastest 40-40 season ever, the first 50-50 season ever and, as of Friday, a fighter’s chance to rally for the batting title to secure the first Triple Crown in the National League since Joe Medwick in 1937.
So despite Roberts saying Friday that he will likely give each of his regulars a day off in their final regular-season series against the Colorado Rockies, Ohtani will likely be in the lineup for all three.
“I think he should,” Roberts said of Ohtani’s potential desire to round out his numbers. “He’s had a tremendous season, and when you get to the 1-yard line on certain statistics, whether it be 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. I’m sure he’s going to want to be in there all three games.”
(Photo of Shohei Ohtani: David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
