Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — In the least surprising bit of news of the season. Shohei Ohtani has been named player of the week for the third time this season. The Dodgers star DH continues to etch his name into Major League Baseball’s history books, and this past week was another stellar chapter in his already remarkable season. With this latest recognition, Ohtani has now been named Player of the Week a total of 10 times throughout his career, with most of those awards coming during his time in the American League.
Ohtani had previously been recognized as NL Player of the Week for the periods of April 29-May 5 and June 17-23. His standout performances have contributed significantly to the Dodgers’ success this season, as he continues to redefine what’s possible on the diamond. While the Dodgers have had three different players receive Player of the Week honors this year, Ohtani’s accolades reflect a truly extraordinary individual season.
During the week of September 16-22, Ohtani delivered jaw-dropping numbers, going 16-for-32 at the plate, which equates to a blistering .500 batting average. His on-base percentage was an equally remarkable .543, and his slugging percentage soared to 1.125. Over the course of just seven games, he hit six home runs, drove in 17 runs, and added two doubles for good measure. Notably, Ohtani made history by becoming the first player in MLB history to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.
Even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts couldn’t contain his amazement at Ohtani’s recent run of form. Speaking after another stellar performance, Roberts marveled, “He just doesn’t seem human right now. I really haven’t seen a player as locked in as Shohei is for as long as he’s been, for quite some time. Just huge hits, huge homers.”
Ohtani’s ability to combine power and speed was on full display during the week in question. After achieving the unprecedented 50-50 milestone, he followed it up by going 3-for-4 in his next game, adding another home run, two RBI, and a stolen base. This performance wasn’t just impressive—it was record-breaking. Ohtani surpassed Rickey Henderson’s MLB record for the most games with both a home run and a stolen base in a single season. Henderson, a Hall of Famer known for his elite speed and power, set the previous mark in 1984 with 13 such games. Ohtani has now done it 15 times in 2024 alone.
His first game with a home run and stolen base this season occurred back in early May against the Miami Marlins. He’s replicated the feat multiple times since then, including standout performances on June 11, July 6, and most recently on September 22, when he extended his own record with yet another game featuring both stats.
As the season progresses, Shohei Ohtani continues to break records and surpass expectations. His combination of power, speed, and consistency has made him one of the most electrifying players in the league, and there’s no telling how many more milestones he’ll reach before the year is done. For now, Ohtani’s latest Player of the Week honor is just another acknowledgment of his incredible impact on the game.
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