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Shohei Ohtani becomes the first MLB player to hit more than 50 home runs and 50 steals in a single season

Vaseline September 20, 2024

MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani looked up at the visiting crowd cheering him and the Los Angeles Dodgers, witnessing one of the greatest individual performances and seasons in Major League history.

Fans whipped out their phones to capture the moment, chanting “MVP!” as Ohtani rounded the bases after stepping over the fence for the 50th time, becoming the first major league player to hit at least 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.

The most amazing thing? Ohtani’s day wasn’t even over yet.

Ohtani raced past the 50-50 mark in the most dramatic game of his history-making career, becoming the first player in the major leagues to hit three home runs and steal two bases in a game during a 20-4 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday, which also secured the Dodgers a spot in the playoffs.

“I almost cried, honestly,” Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas said. “It was a lot of emotions because of everything that goes on behind the scenes and what we get to see every day.”

The $700 million Japanese superstar from Los Angeles hit his 49th home run in the sixth inning, his 50th in the seventh and his 51st in the ninth. He finished 6-for-6 with 10 RBIs and became the first player in the major leagues to hit three home runs and steal two bases in a game.

“It was something I wanted to get over as quickly as possible. And you know, it’s something I’ll cherish for a long time,” Ohtani said through an interpreter in a television interview.

Ohtani reached the second deck in right-center on two of his three homers at LoanDepot Park. In the sixth inning, he hit launched a 1-1 slider by George Soriano 438 feet before his 49th birthday.

Ohtani hit his 50th home run in the seventh, an opposite-field, two-run strike to left against Marlins reliever Mike Baumann. Then, in the ninth, his 51st traveled 440 feet right-center, a three-run home run against Marlins second baseman Vidal Brujan, who came in to pitch as the game spiraled out of control.

“Honestly, I’m probably the one who’s most surprised,” Ohtani said. “I have no idea where this came from, but I’m glad it went well today.”

Ohtani entered the game with 48 homers and 49 steals. He stole bases early, to get his 50th in the first round and his 51st in the second. He has been successful in his last 28 stolen base attempts.

He broke the Dodgers’ franchise record of 49 homers, set by Shawn Green in 2001. And he became the third player in major league history to have at least six hits, three homers and 10 RBIs in a game, joining Cincinnati’s Walker Cooper in 1949 and Washington’s Anthony Rendon in 2017.

Ohtani has 120 RBIs, trailing only Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees (53 homers, 136 RBIs) in both categories.

Ohtani reached the 50-50 milestone in his 150th game, becoming the sixth player in Major League history and the fastest ever to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season, doing so in just 126 games.

His previous career high in home runs was 46 for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he also made 23 starts and won his first of two American League MVP awards.

It was another memorable night for Ohtani at LoanDepot Park, where he knocked out his then Angels teammate Mike Trout of the United States for the final game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship, while playing for Japan.

“I’ve had perhaps the most memorable moments of my career here,” Ohtani said, “and this stadium has become one of my favorite stadiums.”

Already considered by many to be the best player in baseball, whose accomplishments as a pitcher and hitter surpassed even Babe Ruth, Ohtani reached new heights as an offensive player when he took a year off from pitching.

Ohtani signed his $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers last December. The two-way star, who previously spent six years with the Los Angeles Angels, has played exclusively as a designated hitter this season as he rehabs from surgery a year ago for an injured elbow ligament.

He finished triple under the cycle on Thursday, with a run-scoring single and two doubles. He was thrown out at third base while trying to stretch his second double into a triple.

“You can’t really say anything about it because there’s nothing anyone can do about it,” said teammate and former MVP Mookie Betts. “He’s just too good.”

First base was open when Ohtani came to bat in the seventh inning, but Marlins manager Skip Schumaker decided not to intentionally walk him with the Marlins trailing 11-3.

“If it was a close game, up by one run or down by one run, I’d probably put him in,” Schumaker said. “Being down that many runs, that’s a bad move from a baseball perspective, from a karma perspective, from a baseball perspective. … I think we’d take him out of respect for the game. He hit the home run. That’s part of it. He’s hit (51). He’s the most talented player I’ve ever seen.”

Preparation was a key to Ohtani becoming the first member of the 50-50 club. He regularly consulted with the team’s hitting coaches and studied video of opposing teams to understand their tendencies with batters and baserunners.

“I see all the work he puts in,” catcher Will Smith said recently. “It’s not like he goes out there and it’s too easy for him. He works harder than anybody. He scouts really hard. He plays a different game, so it’s fun to watch.”

Ohtani seemed to make the 50-50 mark his mission. He increased the frequency of his base-stealing attempts, and in turn, his success rate went up.

But that may not be the case next year, when he returns to the mound.

“He’s not pitching this year, so I think he’s going to empty the tank offensively,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I think the power, the on-base (percentage), the average, I think he can do that as a pitcher. He’s done something similar with his OPS. But as far as stolen bases, I’m not sure.”

Ohtani’s teammates have enjoyed his home runs and his speedy performances around the bases.

“I honestly try to learn a little bit from him, just watching him go about his day-to-day business. He’s very consistent, has the same attitude everywhere he goes,” outfielder Tommy Edman said recently. “I think that’s why he’s such a good player.”

Third baseman Max Muncy added: “Every night I feel like he’s doing something we haven’t seen before.”

What’s next for Ohtani?

The Dodgers will advance to the postseason in October, marking another first for Ohtani. He never made it with the Angels, who never had a winning record during his time in Anaheim.

Another potential first would be to earn National League MVP honors as a designated hitter. No player who has spent most of his playing time as a DH — without pitching — has ever won the MVP award, although Don Baylor, Edgar Martinez and David Ortiz have come in high.

It would be Ohtani’s third MVP award.