Ranking top 6 players in MLB history to get to 40 HR/ 40 SB ft. Shohei Ohtani, Alex Rodriguez & more

The Japanese two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani entered the elite 40/40 club on Friday. To make it more memorable, Ohtani hit a walk-off grand slam in the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium, winning the game 7-3 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ohtani became the sixth overall player, alongside MLB greats Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Jose Canseco, to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season. He is also the fastest to do it - in 126 games - while eyeing to become the first player to create the 50/50 club.

Let's rank all existing 40/40 club members in terms of games they took in to get in, starting with Shohei Ohtani.

40/40 members ranked ft. Shohei Ohtani and others

Shohei Ohtani

The two-time AL MVP (2021 and 2023), Shohei Ohtani is making his resume stronger for his next MVP candidacy and first-ever NL award this season with the Dodgers. After undergoing elbow surgery last year, he’s now playing as only DH. However, that didn’t stop him from showing his impressiveness.

Ohtani currently leads the National League in runs (96), home runs (40), SLG (.614), OPS (.992) and total bases (307). He is six runs, eight RBIs and six home runs away from career highs and is expected to reach them in due time.

He’s already created a personal best in stolen bases (40) this season. Ohtani is the new member of the 40/40 club, and the second from the NL West Division, succeeding the Giants legend Barry Bonds.

Alfonso Soriano

The seven-time All-Star, Alfonso Soriano played for four teams in his 16 years of major league career, including the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs.

Soriano became the fourth member of the 40/40 club, in 147 games, during his single-year tenure with the Washington Nationals in 2006. He completed the season with 46 homers and 41 stolen bases with a All-Star nod and Silver Slugger award.

Jose Canseco

The newly inducted member of the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame, Jose Canseco created the 40/40 elite club in 1988 and became its first member. He reached this milestone in 151 games.

Canseco, in his fourth season for the A’s, completed the season with 42 home runs (most in the AL) and 40 steals. He won his second All-Star nod, a Silver Slugger award and an MVP award that year.

Ronald Acuna Jr

The reigning NL MVP, Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, became the fifth player to reach this historic milestone, in 152 games last year. He completed the season with 41 homers and 73 stolen bases, becoming the first player to reach the 40/70 feat in 2023. He thus won the MVP title, All-Star nod and Sliver Slugger award.

Unfortunately, In May, Acuna Jr. tore his ACL during a game against the Pittsburg Pirates, excluding him from the rest of the season.

Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez, aka A-Rod, achieved the 40 homers and 40 steals feat in 153 games when he was a member of the Seattle Mariners in 1998. He was the third overall and second player from the American League to ever do that.

He finished the season with 42 home runs and 46 stolen bases, winning an All-Star nod and Silver Slugger award that year.

Barry Bonds

The seven-time MVP and 14-time All-Star, Barry Bonds is one of the greatest players to ever play in the league. MLB’s all-time home run leader (762), Bonds entered the 40/40 club in 1996 during his fourth season with the San Francisco Giants.

He became the second player to do it after Canseco and the first from the National League. He reached the milestone in 158 games.

Bonds finished the year with 42 home runs and 40 stolen bases. On Friday, the Pirates announced Bonds' induction into their Hall of Fame list.