In an exciting game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a 5-2 defeat on Saturday. However, the Dodgers' star player, Shohei Ohtani, left his mark on the game by adding his name to the record books once again. Ohtani, a two-time MVP, went 1-for-3 with his 38th home run of the season, leading the National League. He also showcased his speed on the basepaths, stealing two bases. This impressive performance marked the eighth time this season that Ohtani achieved the feat of hitting a home run and stealing a base in a single game, setting a new franchise record for the Dodgers.

The previous record was held by Kirk Gibson, who achieved this feat seven times during the 1988 season. Gibson, who won the NL MVP that year, is most remembered for his iconic walk-off home run in Game 1 of the World Series against Oakland Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley. Now, Ohtani has surpassed Gibson's record and continues to solidify his place as one of the all-time greats.

Ohtani's extraordinary season puts him in the running for a third MVP Award. Currently, he boasts an impressive batting average of .290, with a .377 on-base percentage and a .613 slugging percentage. He has amassed 73 extra-base hits, 88 RBIs, and an impressive 37 stolen bases in just 122 games. Additionally, his exceptional performance on the field has led to him accumulating a 6.1 wins above replacement, topping all NL players.

In the series finale against the Cardinals, Ohtani continued his incredible display of power by hitting his 39th home run of the season. With just one home run shy of an elusive 40-home run mark, Ohtani is on the brink of achieving an unprecedented 40-40 season, a feat no Dodgers player has ever accomplished. The closest anyone has come to this milestone was Matt Kemp in 2011, with 39 homers and 40 stolen bases.

Only five players in MLB history have achieved a 40-40 season, with Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves being the most recent to accomplish this remarkable feat in 2023. With less than two months of regular season games remaining, the possibility of Ohtani joining this elite group of players is within reach. In fact, Ohtani could become the first player in MLB history to record an incredible 45-45 season.

Even former Dodgers player Matt Kemp, who was honored during a retirement ceremony last weekend, expressed his admiration for Ohtani among other talented players. Kemp listed Ohtani, along with Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Ronald Acuña, and Juan Soto, as some of his favorite players to watch. Kemp praised the young talent that has elevated the level of the game, stating that "baseball is on another level now."

As the regular season progresses, fans eagerly anticipate witnessing Ohtani's remarkable performance on the field. With each game, he continues to etch his name in the record books and solidify his status as one of the game's most electrifying players.