"I walked so Shohei Ohtani could run" – 6x All-Star Jose Canseco suggests he paved the way for the Dodgers star's historic 50-50 season
Fans are witnessing something that has never been seen before in MLB thanks to Shohei Ohtani. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has put together a season unlike any other, becoming the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same year.
As of Monday, Ohtani currently sits at 53 home runs and 55 stolen bases, adding to his new MLB record.
After reaching the 50-50 milestone, a number of players and analysts came out to congratulate Shohei Ohtani for his historic season. The National League MVP Award favorite has continued to not only make his case as the best player in the league, but also one of the best players to ever step onto an MLB field.
While Ohtani recieved praise from colleagues and analysts, former Oakland Athletics star Jose Canseco took a different approach. The polarizing former outfielder took to social media to essentially praise himself as a trailblazer for his combination of power and speed.
"I walked so Shohei Ohanti could run," Canseco posted on social media.
Although this may sound absurd, to Canseco's credit he was a unique player thanks to his abilty to swipe bases and launch monster home runs. Sure, he did it with the admitted assistance of steroids, but during his heyday, he was must-watch television.
During the 1988 season, the Oakland Athletics superstar put the league on notice after posting an incredible 42 home runs and 40 steals in a season, becoming the first player in history to do so.
Jose Canseco went on to finish the year as the American League MVP, although the validity of the award could be questioned because of his admitted steroid usage.
Shohei Ohtani is the frontrunner to win yet another MVP Award despite being a full-time DH
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has had to overcome a number of obstacles to reach this point of the year, which makes his 50-50 season even more impressive.
From rehabbing UCL surgery to having his former interpreter allegedly steal millions of dollars from him, Shohei Ohtani has put all that aside to potentially win yet another MVP.
Despite his tremendous season, some experts have questioned whether or not Ohtani should win the award given the fact that he is strictly a designated hitter. This is has helped the case for Francisco Lindor, who has been excellent both at the plate and on defense.
Even though those siding with Francisco Lindor have continued to make an argument for the shortstop's defensive contributions, it has not affected the betting odds for Shohei Ohtani. As of Monday, the Dodgers star remains the heavy favorite to win the award even though he is a DH.