Ohtani 1st MLB player to achieve 50 home runs, 50 stolen bases in a season

 

Shohei Ohtani witnessed one of the best individual performances and seasons in major league history as he gazed up at the visiting crowd that had come to support him and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

As Ohtani rounded the bases after clearing the fence for the 50th time, fans raised their phones to record the moment and yelled "M-V-P!" to commemorate his achievement of becoming the first major league player to have at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.

The most astounding feature of it all? Ohtani still had more time in his day.

In the most stunning outing of his historic career, Ohtani sped past the 50-50 mark to become the first big league player to hit three home runs and steal two bases in the same game during the Dodgers' 20-4 blowout of their local Miami Marlins on Thursday. The victory also guaranteed the team a postseason berth.

"I almost cried, to be honest," Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas said. "It was a lot of emotions because of everything that happens behind the scenes that we got to witness every single day."

Los Angeles' $700 million US Japanese superstar hit his 49th homer in the sixth inning, his 50th in the seventh and his 51st in the ninth. He finished 6-for-6 with 10 runs batted in.

"It was something I wanted to get over as quickly as possible. And, you know, it's something that I'm going to cherish for a very long time," Ohtani said through an interpreter in a televised interview.

At LoanDepot Park, Ohtani reached the second deck in right center on two of his three home runs. He hit his 49th in the sixth inning off of a 1-1 slider from George Soriano that traveled 438 feet.

In the seventh inning, Ohtani launched his 50th home run to left off of Marlins reliever Mike Baumann, using opposite field and two runs. Subsequently, in the ninth inning, he launched his 51st pitch, which traveled 440 feet to right center, scoring three runs off Marlins second baseman Vidal Brujan, who entered the game already well-disposed of.

SHOHEI OHTANI HAS DONE IT

50 HOME RUNS | 50 STOLEN BASES

HISTORY pic.twitter.com/GRVJUCbpja

— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024

Ohtani came into the game with 48 homers and 49 steals. He took care of the stolen bases early, swiping his 50th in the first and his 51st in the second. He has been successful on his last 28 stolen base attempts.

He eclipsed Shawn Green's 2001 franchise record of 49 home runs for the Dodgers. And with his three home runs, six hits, and ten RBI in a game, he became the third player in big league history to do it, after Walker Cooper of Cincinnati in 1949 and Anthony Rendon of Washington in 2017.