Shohei Ohtani, the phenomenal Los Angeles Dodgers' player, etched his name in Major League Baseball's (MLB) record books on Thursday by becoming the first-ever player to achieve the remarkable feat of hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a single season.
Ohtani secured his place in the exclusive 50-50 club with a powerful seventh-inning home run during the Dodgers' dominant 20-4 win against the Marlins in Miami.
The victory also marked a significant milestone for Ohtani, as it secured the Dodgers' spot in the post-season, a first for the Japanese star who, despite earning two American League Most Valuable Player awards with the Los Angeles Angels, had never reached the playoffs before.
In the seventh inning, with the Dodgers having runners on the corners and two outs, Ohtani stepped up to the plate. He connected with a curveball from Mike Baumann, sending it soaring over the left centerfield wall.
This second home run of the game brought his season total to 50, while his two stolen bases earlier in the contest increased his steals tally to 51.
Ohtani's 49th home run of the 2024 season came in the sixth inning, a mammoth 438-foot shot that matched Shawn Green's single-season record for the most home runs by a Dodger, originally set in 2001.
Ohtani's offensive prowess reached new heights as he capped off the game with a third home run in the ninth inning. This latest feat brought his season totals to an impressive 51 home runs and 51 stolen bases.
Throughout the game, Ohtani showcased his hitting skills, going a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate. His hits included two doubles, contributing to a total of five extra-base hits in the contest.
The two-way star's impact extended beyond his own scoring, as he drove in an astonishing 10 runs while also crossing the plate four times himself. As he returned to the dugout following his final home run, Ohtani couldn't help but laugh, overwhelmed by the roaring cheers of the fans at LoanDepot Park.
"To be honest, I'm the one probably most surprised," Ohtani said through a translator, as quoted by AFP. "I have no idea where this came from, but I'm glad I performed well today."
"This is a game that has been played for over 200 years," said Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, while addressing his players after the win. "And this is something that has never been done."
Ohtani put the team ahead while speaking about his achievement.
"I'm glad that the team won," he said, admitting that with so much attention focused on his 50-50 pursuit, it "was something I wanted to get over as quickly as possible.
"It's something that I'm going to cherish for a very long time," he said.
After scoring on a sacrifice fly, Ohtani continued his impressive performance in the following inning by stealing his 51st base after hitting a single and swiping second.
By reaching the 50 stolen base mark, Ohtani surpassed Dave Roberts for the second-highest total by a Japanese-born player in MLB history. The record is currently held by Ichiro Suzuki, who stole 56 bases in the 2001 season.
Earlier this season, Ohtani had already made history by becoming the all-time leader in home runs among Japanese-born players, surpassing Hideki Matsui's previous record of 175. The 30-year-old superstar, who signed a record-breaking $700 million free agent contract with the Dodgers during the off-season, now boasts an impressive 222 career home runs.
As Ohtani continues to excel at the plate and on the basepaths, he is also making progress in his recovery from elbow surgery. Although he has been unable to showcase his pitching skills this season, Ohtani has been participating in bullpen sessions and may soon face live hitters as part of his rehabilitation process.
