Shohei Ohtani posted one of the greatest hitting displays of all time on Thursday — and made more history in the process.
The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger hit his 49th, 50th and 51st home runs against the Miami Marlins and became the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. Ohtani recorded his 50th and 51st stolen bases on Thursday, finishing the game 6-for-6 with 10 RBIs. He also became the first player in MLB history to hit three home runs and two stolen bases in a game.
The historic blast came in the seventh inning off Miami’s Mike Bowman. It was Ohtani’s second home run and fifth of the day and tied Shawn Green’s Dodgers franchise record for home runs in a season. Ohtani’s 10 RBIs set a new franchise record on Thursday.
Ohtani followed that milestone home run with a two-run blast to right field in the sixth inning, followed by a 440-foot three-run home run in the ninth for his third blast at the Dodgers’ 20 for 4.
Since the RBI became an official statistic in 1920, no player has posted more than 10 RBIs, six hits, five extra-base hits, three home runs and two stolen bases in their career. Ohtani did it all Thursday. He became the seventh player to record 17 total bases in a game and the first player to hit four home runs without hitting a single.
Ohtani’s 50/50 milestone caps off a remarkable first season with the Dodgers, who signed the two-way superstar to a record 10-year, $700 million contract.
The 30-year-old earned his fourth All-Star nod this summer and is the favorite to capture the National League MVP. His 50 homers lead the NL and trail Aaron Judge in baseball. Her 51 stolen bases are second in the league behind Ellie De La Cruz.
With his stellar play and as a base runner, Ohtani is currently the favorite to win the third MVP award of his illustrious career. He won the AL MVP twice, including in 2023, during his six-year tenure with the Los Angeles Angels. Unlike his two MVP seasons, Ohtani did not pitch in the 2024 regular season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn UCL in his elbow in September 2023.
Shohei Ohtani becomes MLB’s first 50/50 player
If Ohtani wins the NL MVP, he will follow in the footsteps of Atlanta Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Ohtani’s 50/50 season also came on the heels of Acuna’s historic 2023 season, where he hit 41 home runs and stole 73 bases. In August, Ohtani joined Acuna as one of six players to reach a 40/40 season when he hit a walk-off grand slam against the Tampa Bay Rays for his 40th homer. Hit his 40th homer in the 126th game of the season, becoming the fastest player to reach a 40/40 season in 21 games. From there, the countdown to the 50/50 was underway.
For a look at Ohtani’s 50/50 record, here are the previous single-season highs for steals among players who hit 50 home runs.
D-1. Alex Rodriguez (2007) – 54 HR and 24 steals
D-1. Willie Mays (1955) – 51 HR and 24 steals
3. Brady Anderson (1996) – 50 HR and 21 steals
4. Ken Griffey Jr. (1998) – 56 HR and 20 steals
D-5. Sammy Sosa (1998) – 66 HR and 18 steals
D-5. Alex Rodriguez (2001) – 52 HRs and 18 steals
Plus, here are the previous single-season home run leaders for players who swiped 50 bags.
1. Ronald Acuna (2023) – 73 steals and 41 HR
2. Eric Davis (1987) – 50 steals and 37 HR
3. Barry Bonds (1990) – 52 steals and 33 steals
4. Hanley Ramirez (2007) – 51 steals and 29 HR
D-5. Rickey Henderson (1986) – 87 steals and 28 HR
D-5. Rickey Henderson (1990) – 65 steals and 28 HR
For the first time in Ohtani’s MLB career, his campaign will not end when the regular season ends. The Dodgers clinched a playoff spot with Thursday’s win, setting the stage for an eventual postseason appearance for Ohtani.
The Dodgers have also opened the door for him to pitch in the postseason. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters in September that there was a “very slim” chance that Ohtani would be on the mound, but that it was “not zero.”
Ohtani also seems to have left the door open.
“I’m not sure,” Ohtani said he said with a smile to reporters through an interpreter earlier this week.
Regardless of what happens in October, Ohtani has another record and another breakout season to his name.
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