Since entering MLB in 2018, Shohei Ohtani has been one of the best power-speed players in the major leagues. But Ohtani, recovering from major surgery on his pitching elbow last September and a full-time hitter, has taken his power-speed combination to the next level in 2024.

The Los Angeles Dodgers star is about to join one of the most exclusive groups in baseball history: the 40-40 club.

Extremely rare. But let’s put this in perspective.

Reaching the 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases mark is a very impressive feat, but it happens more often than you think. In 2023 alone FanGraphs has tracked nearly 20 players who have reached those marks, possibly due in part to MLB rule changes regarding base size and pitcher pickoff moves.

Breaking into the 30-30 club, which Ohtani joined for the first time earlier this season, is significantly more difficult. In MLB history, only 47 players have ever hit 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season.

Of the more than 20,000 players who have played professional baseball since 1876, only five have managed to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a single season. That is how rare it is.

Ohtani hit 39 home runs and 38 stolen bases as of August 21. He’s closing in on that mark, and here are the five players in MLB history to have a 40-40 season.

As you can see from the chart above, former Athletics hitter Jose Canseco started the 40-40 club in 1988. By the time Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. accomplished that feat during his National League MVP-winning season in 2023, 17 years had passed since a player had hit 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases.

Let us briefly discuss each of these seasons.

Jose Canseco, 1988

Considered one of the most promising prospects since Willie Mays, Canseco made his MLB debut in 1985 and was an immediate threat with his power and speed. He hit 69 home runs and had 31 stolen bases in his first three seasons. But Canseco wanted more.

Accordingly The Los Angeles TimesIn April 1988, he predicted that he would become the first player in MLB history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a season. Canseco, then 23, proved to be a prophet, hitting 42 home runs and stealing 40 bases to win the American League MVP award.

Barry Bonds, 1996

Before Bonds suspiciously gained size and became embroiled in baseball’s steroid scandal, he was a top-notch threat in terms of power and speed, just like his father, Bobby. In fact, the elder Bonds, who posted five 30-30 seasons in his MLB career, flirted with the 40-40 club twice, once in 1973 (39 HRs, 43 SBs) and again in 1977 (37 HRs, 41 SBs).

After posting three 30-30 seasons in his career, Barry became only the second player in MLB history to reach that mark at age 31, recording 42 home runs and 40 steals.

Alex Rodriguez, 1998

While baseball fans were thrilled by the great home run chase between hitters Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in the summer of 1998, then-Seattle Mariners star shortstop Alex Rodriguez was making baseball history of his own. Perhaps one of the most talented prospects of all time, Rodriguez debuted at age 18 and played his first full MLB season at age 20.

At the age of 22, A-Rod hit 42 home runs and stole 46 bases, becoming only the third and youngest member of the 40-40 club in 1998.

Alfonso Soriano, 2006

Soriano made his debut with the New York Yankees, where he posted a 30-30 record in two of his first three major league seasons and repeated the feat during his time with the Texas Rangers.

In December 2005, the 30-year-old Soriano was traded to the Washington Nationals. The experienced infielder, who had played mainly second base in his career up to that point, argued with the then-General Manager of the Nationals, Jim Bowden, about the position in the outfield.

Soriano reluctantly gave in, but then had one of the best seasons in baseball history, hitting 46 home runs and stealing 41 bases.

Ronald Acuna Jr., 2023

Acuna wasted no time in establishing himself as a real threat to the 40-40 club, hitting 41 home runs and stealing 37 bases in just his second MLB season in 2019 at the age of 21. The pandemic-shortened 2020 season and a torn ACL in his right knee in 2021 essentially robbed him of the next three seasons.

But when he was healthy again in 1923, Acuna had an amazing year, hitting 41 home runs and stealing 73 bases. The Atlanta Braves outfielder is the only player in MLB history to hit over 40 home runs and steal over 70 bases in a season.

Ohtani approaches the 40-40 club with nine games remaining in August. For comparison, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, players like Canseco, Bonds, Rodriguez, Soriano and Acuna all accomplished this feat in the final few games of their respective seasons.

After 124 games played, Ohtani has 39 home runs and 38 stolen bases. Unless he continues to slump or gets injured, Ohtani will almost certainly enter the 40-40 club in far fewer games than any of the five players who have done so.

This could potentially propel Ohtani into a new statistical stratosphere.

No player has ever hit 50 home runs and stolen 50 bases in a single season. But until Ohtani’s 2024 season, mathematically speaking, no player even had the chance to do so.

But with 35 games left in the season – the rest of August and all of September – Ohtani is just a month away from having the best power-speed season baseball has ever seen.

Here is a table with some food for thought.

Ohtani’s Home Run/Stolen Base Totals by Month in 2024

Ohtani should at least In September, maintain the steady pace he has maintained all year and reach the incredible 50-50 mark.

So you think there is a chance?

That this is even a remote possibility is a testament to Ohtani’s true greatness. Since entering the MLB in 2018, Ohtani has pushed the boundaries of what’s possible on a baseball field.

If and when he joins the 40-40 club and pushes for an unthinkable 50-50 season, Ohtani will once again make every baseball fan’s jaw drop.