Ohtani becomes 1st player with 50 home runs, 50 stolen bases in single season
SAM NAVARRO / IMAGN IMAGES
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park.
SAM NAVARRO / IMAGN IMAGES
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts to a standing ovation from the fans after hitting his 50th home run of the season against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at loanDepot Park.
Shohei Ohtani had a day for the record books Thursday, grabbing his 50th stolen base of the season before crushing two home runs to become the first player in Major League Baseball history to post a 50-homer, 50-steal season.
After steals in the first and second innings pushed Ohtani’s season total to 51, he crushed a slider from Miami reliever George Soriano into the upper deck for his 49th home run of the year.
Dodgers fans did not have to wait long at all for Ohtani to turn that 49 into a 50.
In the seventh inning, facing Mike Baumann, the lefty-swinging Ohtani struck a 1-2 knuckle curve to the opposite field 391 feet for his second two-run shot of the day, becoming the founding member of baseball’s 50-50 club.
Ohtani’s singular day saw him go 6-for-6 with a franchise-record 10 RBIs, to go with four runs and two steals.
He also tied and broke Dodgers’ single-season record for home runs, set by Shawn Green with 49 in 2001.
His second bomb put the Dodgers ahead 14-3 on the hapless Marlins.
The two-way Japanese star doubled against Edward Cabrera to lead off the game and went on to steal third base. He scored on Will Smith’s sacrifice fly three batters later. Ohtani added his 51st steal an inning later after plating Max Muncy with a two-out single.
Ohtani’s 51 steals this season are second to Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (64), while his 50 home runs trail only New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge (53).
The leading National League MVP candidate, Ohtani entered Thursday batting .287 with 110 RBIs and a .978 on base-plus-slugging percentage. He joined the Dodgers in December on a 10-year, $700 million contract.
Ohtani was expected to reach the 50-50 mark during an upcoming homestand against the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres. Clearly, he did not want to wait that long.
“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 interpreter Will Ireton.
It has been an eventful year for the Japanese superstar. Ohtani joined the Dodgers in December on a 10-year, $700 million contract after spending six seasons with the crosstown rival Angels. He is not pitching this season as he rehabs reconstructive surgery on his elbow. He also endured a scandal in which his former friend and interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, stole millions of dollars from him to repay sports gambling debts.
Ohtani’s 51 steals this season are second to Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (64), while his 50 home runs trail only New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge (53).
The leading National League MVP candidate, Ohtani is batting .294 with 120 RBIs. Only Judge (136) has more RBIs.
