"Let's go NL MVP" - Dodgers fans enamored as Shohei Ohtani becomes first player to reach 30-30 milestone in 2024
Los Angeles Dodger superstar Shohei Ohtani is showing no signs of stopping. The Japanese phenom was locked in during his team's 10-0 rout of the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.
Ohtani, who leads the National League with 33 home runs and is only behind Aaron Judge's home run tally in the MLB this season, became the first player with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases this season. The two-time MVP stole three bases during his team's shutout win to become the first member of the 30-30 club.
Dodgers fans were over the moon with the $700 million offseason acquisition's impressive outing, with several fans giving an early shout-out for an NL MVP title.
"Ohtani let's go NL MVP."
"He may not play the field but literally does everything else, a 30+ SB DH he continues to be a unicorn," praised another fan.
"The Legendary Shohei Ohtani," wrote a fan.
The adulation for the reigning NL MVP continued.
"Shohei Ohtani is the best baseball player on the planet," wrote another fan.
"And he is a pitcher. He is rehabbing this season. He is unbelievable," reminded a fan of Ohtani's surgery last year.
"And he did it with fashion tonight. Deadly base runner. I want him on the mound by boy," wrote an excited fan eager to see him on the mound again.
Shohei Ohtani became the first Dodgers player to join the 30-30 club since former three-time All-Star Matt Kemp. The former All-Star outfielder achieved that feat during his first stint with the Dodgers in 2011.
Shohei Ohtani's historic debut season with the Dodgers continues
Ohtani is only the third Dodger to achieve this feat, joining Matt Kemp and Raul Mondesi (twice). He is also the third-fastest to the feat, reaching the 30-30 club in 108 games.
Yankees legend Alex Rodriguez did it in 107 games for the Seattle Mariners in 1997 while Eric Davis topped the list with just 90 games under his belt in 1987 for the Reds.
However, Ohtani is likely to aim for more accolades, and as per manager Dave Roberts, he had set sights on an even rarer milestone at the start of the season.
"I do think 40-40 is something that was on his radar from Spring Training," Roberts said per MLB.com.
Nothing seems to be in Shohei Ohtani's way from reaching the 40-40 club as there is still a considerable chunk of season to play with the Japanese phenom at the very top of his game.