In a season that can only be described as historic, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is leaving a lasting impact on the game of baseball. While recovering from Tommy John surgery, Ohtani has shifted his focus to hitting and running, and his success on the basepaths has been nothing short of remarkable.

Ohtani's recent performance in stealing bases has caught the attention of fans and experts alike. On a sleepy morning in the Oakland Coliseum, Ohtani sat alongside his interpreter, Will Ireton, and first-base coach, Clayton McCullough. They analyzed the video of Ohtani's second steal of the night, during which McCullough noted that the jump off the pitcher was "terrible." Undeterred, Ohtani absorbed the feedback, eager to improve.

With a career-high 35 stolen bases (in 39 attempts) this season, Ohtani has already shattered his previous record of 26 stolen bases in 2021. This exceptional feat has not gone unnoticed, as Ohtani now holds the single-season record for stolen bases by a primary designated hitter, surpassing Gary Sheffield's mark of 22 in 2007.

Ohtani's stolen base prowess puts him in elite company, trailing only Cincinnati's Elly De La Cruz and Milwaukee's Brice Turang in stolen bases this season. However, Ohtani's ambitions extend beyond merely being among the league leaders. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed that Ohtani had set his sights on achieving the coveted 40-40 milestone of hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases in a single season.

Achieving the 40-40 milestone is an extraordinary feat that has only been accomplished five times in MLB history. The exclusive club includes names like José Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, and Ronald Acuña Jr. Ohtani, despite downplaying the specific goal, expressed satisfaction if the season culminated in the 40-40 accomplishment. Surpassing this milestone would make Ohtani the first player to achieve a 45-45 season, surpassing both the 40 home run and 40 stolen base thresholds.

The Dodgers organization had anticipated Ohtani's ability to steal bases due to his impressive sprint speed, ranking in the 72nd percentile in the league. As the season progressed, the opportunities for stolen bases increased, resulting in a successful streak of 12 out of 14 attempts in July alone. Roberts praised Ohtani's buy-in and understanding of the value of stolen bases, highlighting their importance in the team's pennant race.

Notably, Ohtani's improvement on the basepaths has been reflected in FanGraphs' base-running metric, further solidifying his growth as a complete player. Playing in meaningful games after several seasons of struggling in Anaheim has undoubtedly contributed to Ohtani's enhanced performance.

As Ohtani continues to study and make adjustments, his dedication to improving every aspect of his game has been evident. First-base coach Clayton McCullough attested to Ohtani's keen eye for details, often noticing nuances that even the coaches miss. Ohtani's focus and newfound freedom from pitching have allowed him to dedicate more time to refining his technique and form.

For Ohtani, it's not just about individual accomplishments, but rather about dominating the game in every way possible. His relentless pursuit of excellence has positioned him as one of the greatest talents in baseball history. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Ohtani, eagerly awaiting each stolen base and home run that brings him closer to etching his name in the record books once again.