Dodgers Star Ohtani Becomes MLB’s First Player to Hit 50 HRs, Steal 50 Bases

Shohei Ohtani’s first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers was one to remember in MLB history as he became the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.

Ohtani entered Thursday’s game against the Miami Marlins 10 games shy of reaching the unprecedented milestone, but was determined to put an end to it all with his 50th and 51st bases.

Ohtani hit his 49th and 50th home runs in the same game, breaking the Dodgers’ single-season home run record set by Shawn Green in 2001.

And Ohtani’s outstanding day at the plate wasn’t over yet. He hit his 51st home run of the season in the top of the ninth inning as the Dodgers stormed past the Marlins, 20-4. Ohtani finished the day perfect at the plate, going 6-for-6 with 10 RBI, five extra base hits and four runs scored. It’s an unprecedented feat for a man likely to be named this year’s National League MVP.

Ohtani needed just one stolen base early on to reach the half-century mark, and when he got on base in the first innings start, he didn’t wait long. Standing on second base, he made a good jump to third base, but the throw looked like it was right in front of him.

But the tag wasn’t released, and he signaled to the umpire that he was safe, and the umpire ruled accordingly.

Ohtani is now two homers away from 50, joining the only 50-50 club in MLB history. But before that, he homered for his 51st of the season in the second inning after reaching second base with an RBI double. He advanced to second base without the throw.

And in his fourth at-bat of the game, Ohtani showed strength rather than speed, already recording 3 hits in 3 at-bats, 2 doubles, and 3 RBIs.

With a runner on second base, Ohtani hit an 85 mph slider into the right field stands, sending the ball out of the loan Depot Park, and when the Dodgers were up 9-3, he knew he was totally hooked.

Then in the top of the seventh, with the count at 1-2, Ohtani took a perfect inside-out swing on a deep pitch, sending the ball into the left field stands for his 50th home run. 2024 season.

When Ohtani reached first base, the crowd roared. Even though it was an away game, the crowd cheered as Ohtani rounded the bases, knowing they were witnessing a historic event.

Ohtani was called to the curtain outside the Dodgers dugout and answered the call by greeting the fans as his teammates and coaches applauded the achievement of a previously unthinkable milestone. And in addition to “the greatest day in baseball history,” as commentator Joe Davis perfectly put it during a Dodgers broadcast, Ohtani hit a three-run bomb in the ninth inning that culminated against position player Vidal Bourjan in right field.

Ohtani’s day could have been even better if he had been able to hit a triple in an earlier at-bat, but the ball was thrown out to third base in that at-bat. If he had stayed in the game, he would have reached the cycle and continued league history.

Ohtani will not pitch for the Dodgers this season, but his first season was one to smash.

And to cap off the day, the Dodgers clinched a playoff berth with a win, giving Ohtani the chance to play in postseason baseball for the first time in his career.