Former Angels Hitting Coach Thinks Shohei Ohtani Could Have 40 HR, 40 SB Season With Dodgers

The expectations for designated hitter Shohei Ohtani with the Los Angeles Dodgers were already sky-high as soon as he signed with the team on a $700 million deal.

Those expectations are only increasing after Ohtani’s spectacular Cactus League debut for the Dodgers, in which he already hit a home run for the team.

Ohtani’s former hitting coach with the Los Angeles Angels, Jeremy Reed, is one of the many who believes Ohtani can put up a spectacular feat in 2024. More specifically, Reed believes Ohtani can join an exclusive club of five MLB players who have hit 40 home runs and recorded 40 stolen bases in one season.

“We’re talking about a dynamic runner, a dynamic mover, with the strength and leverage to go with it,” Reed said to Jack Harris of the LA Times. “I would never put any limitations on him. That’s how good he is. So if he went out there and had a 40/40 season, I would not be surprised. I would actually be like, ‘Yeah, I knew he could do that … I think Shohei is gonna have a monster year. I think he’s gonna do things with the bat he might not have ever done.”

Via Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times.

Dodgers special assistant Ron Roenicke added that Ohtani definitely has the talent, but his primary goal in stealing bases is to do what helps his team.

“He would like to run, he would like to steal,” Roenicke said. “Whether that means 30 stolen bases, whether that means 50, I think with him the most important thing is, ‘Am I stealing in the times when the team needs me?’ He mentioned that to me.”

Via Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times.

Ohtani’s career-high in stolen bases for a season is 26, which he recorded during his first MVP season in 2021 when he was also pitching.

This year, he’ll only be focused on hitting (and running), so if he wants to get to 40 stolen bases, there’s no doubt he’d be able to do it.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports