Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has made history by becoming the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season. Ohtani accomplished the feat in style by clocking his 49th, 50th and 51st home runs and 50th and 51st stolen bases of the year during LA…
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani etched his name in Major League Baseball history on Thursday, becoming the inaugural member of the 50-50 club against the Miami Marlins.
A 50-50 season consists of 50+ home runs and 50+ stolen bases in a single season.
Ohtani, who became the聽聽to record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season, hit his 50th homer of the season in the top of the seventh inning after stealing his 50th聽and 51st聽bases earlier in the game.
The Japanese two-way sensation gave the Dodgers a 14-3 lead with his historic home run. Incredibly, he homered again in his next at-bat in the 9th inning, giving him three for the game. He entered the record books in unreal fashion, hitting two doubles, a single, three home runs and stealing two bases 鈥 one of the most prolific offensive performances of the season by any player.
The game was the first three-homer game of Ohtani鈥檚 career and the first 10 RBI game of his career.
The Dodgers ended up winning the game 20-4 over Miami, clinching a spot in the playoffs.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad that the team won,鈥 Ohtani said after the game. 鈥淚t was something that I wanted to get over as quickly as possible and you know it鈥檚 something that I鈥檓 going to cherish for a very long time.鈥
In Ohtani鈥檚 native Japan, newspapers rushed out special editions announcing the news.
Top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said: 鈥淲e would like to congratulate him from the bottom of our heart.鈥
鈥淲e sincerely hope Mr Ohtani, who has already accomplished feat after feat and carved out a new era, will thrive further,鈥 he told a press conference.
Ohtani opened his day with a double in the first inning, accompanying it by stealing his 50th聽base of the season. After hitting a single one frame later, Ohtani swiped his 51st聽base. He hit a double his next time up, but was thrown out at third when he attempted to stretch it into a triple.
He mashed his 49th聽home run in the sixth inning off of Marlins reliever George Soriano, sending a two-run shot to the second deck of right center field at LoanDepot Park to come within one of the 50-50 club.
One inning later, Ohtani hammered a three-run homer off of reliever Mike Baumann, his historic 50th聽of the season. Ohtani momentarily stood at the plate as he watched the ball travel into the stands before making his way towards first base, shouting in excitement. After rounding the bases and being greeted by his Dodgers teammates, Ohtani made his way out of the dugout for a rare curtain call on the road.
However, his day was not done as he blasted a Dodgers-record 51st聽home run in the ninth inning, passing Shawn Green for the most in a single season.
鈥淭o be honest, I鈥檓 the one probably most surprised. I have no idea where this came from but I鈥檓 glad that I performed well today,鈥 Ohtani said about his day at the plate.
The closest anyone has come to the 50-50 mark was the Atlanta Braves鈥 Ronald Acu帽a Jr., who stole 73 bases and hit 41 home runs in 2023, and Alex Rodriguez, who as a member of the Seattle Mariners hit 42 home runs and stole 46 bases in 1998.
Ohtani starred for six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels as both a slugger and a pitcher, twice winning the American League鈥檚 Most Valuable Player Award. This past offseason, he signed a聽聽with the Dodgers.
The historic accomplishment comes after Ohtani faced a personally difficult start to his time at the Dodgers. His longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara聽聽in court in June to fraud and tax charges for stealing almost $17 million from the slugger to pay off gambling debts, a revelation that came just hours after Ohtani鈥檚 debut in a Dodgers uniform during the season-opening game in South Korea.
Speculation swirled around Ohtani for weeks after the revelation of Mizuhara鈥檚 gambling as questions were asked about what the superstar knew and when he knew it. Ohtani 鈥 as well as Mizuhara himself 鈥 maintained that he knew nothing of his friend and interpreter鈥檚 gambling addiction and theft. When Mizuhara pleaded guilty, Ohtani said he had closure from the sad revelation.
鈥淭his has been a uniquely challenging time, so I am especially grateful for my support team - my family, agent, agency, lawyers, and advisors along with the entire Dodger organization, who showed endless support throughout this process. It鈥檚 time to close this chapter, move on and continue to focus on playing and winning ballgames,鈥 he said in a statement.
The Japanese star is the odds-on favorite to win the NL MVP award, despite not pitching this season due to offseason elbow surgery. He has 51 home runs, with a .294 batting average this season while helping lead the Dodgers to a 91-62 record, good for first in the NL West division.
With the win against Miami, the Dodgers are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs and give Ohtani his first chance to shine in October. In his time as an Angel, Ohtani鈥檚 teams never once reached the postseason.
鈥淎lthough I switched uniforms, I came to a new team, my goal was always to be in the playoffs and I鈥檓 glad that we were able to make it today, personally and as a team,鈥 he said after the game.
___
Sports Week in Photos: A gallery of game action, celebrations and more
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has made history by becoming the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases…
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani congratulated by teammates after he hit a home run scoring Andy Pages, during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, September 19 in Miami.