Shohei Ohtani becomes first major league player to exceed 50 homers and 50 steals in a season

Alanis Thames, Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani became nan first awesome convention subordinate to transcend 50 location runs and 50 stolen bases successful a play during nan astir spectacular crippled of a history-making profession for nan Los Angeles Dodgers star, going heavy 3 times and swiping 2 bags connected Thursday against nan Miami Marlins.

Ohtani deed is 49th homer successful nan sixth inning, his 50th successful nan seventh and his 51st successful nan ninth. He vanished 6 for 6 pinch 10 RBIs while becoming nan first large convention subordinate to deed 3 homers and bargain 2 bases successful a game.

The Japanese superstar reached nan 2nd platform successful right-center connected 2 of his 3 homers astatine LoanDepot Park. In nan sixth inning, he launched a 1-1 slider from George Soriano 438 feet for his 49th.

Ohtani deed his 50th homer successful nan seventh inning, an opposite-field, two-run changeable to near against Marlins reliever Mike Baumann. Then, successful nan ninth, his 51st traveled 440 feet to right-center, a three-run changeable against Marlins 2nd baseman Vidal Brujan, who came successful to transportation pinch nan crippled retired of hand.

Ohtani took attraction of nan stolen bases earlier successful nan game, swiping his 50th successful nan first and his 51st successful nan second.

The Japanese superstar led disconnected nan crippled pinch double against Edward Cabrera and swiped 3rd connected nan beforehand extremity of a double bargain pinch Freddie Freeman, who reached connected a walk.

Ohtani has been successful connected his past 28 stolen guidelines attempts.

He reached nan 50-50 milestone successful his 150th game. Ohtani was already nan sixth subordinate successful awesome convention history and nan fastest ever to scope 40 location runs and 40 stolen bases successful a season, needing conscionable 126 games.

Ohtani’s erstwhile profession precocious successful homers was 46 for nan Los Angeles Angels successful 2021, erstwhile he besides made 23 starts connected nan mound and won his first of 2 American League MVP awards.

Already nan statement champion subordinate successful shot whose accomplishments arsenic a pitcher and batter outpaced moreover Babe Ruth, Ohtani reached caller heights arsenic an violative subordinate while taking nan twelvemonth disconnected from pitching.

Ohtani signed a $700 million, 10-year woody pinch nan Dodgers past December. The two-way star, who antecedently spent six years pinch nan Los Angeles Angels, has played exclusively astatine designated hitter this play arsenic he rehabilitates aft room a twelvemonth agone for an injured elbow ligament.

Preparation was a cardinal to Ohtani becoming nan first personnel of nan 50-50 club. He regularly huddled pinch nan team’s hitting coaches and studied video of opposing pitchers to understand their tendencies pinch hitters and baserunners.

“I spot each nan activity he puts in,” Dodgers catcher Will Smith said recently. “It’s not for illustration he goes retired location and it’s excessively easy for him. He useful harder than anybody. He scouts really hard. He’s playing a different crippled truthful it’s nosy to see.”

Ohtani appeared to make nan 50-50 people his mission. He accrued nan wave of his base-stealing attempts and successful move his occurrence complaint went up.

But that whitethorn not beryllium nan lawsuit adjacent twelvemonth erstwhile he returns to nan mound.

“He’s not pitching this twelvemonth truthful I deliberation he is emptying nan vessel offensively,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “I do deliberation nan power, nan on-base (percentage), nan average, I deliberation he tin do that arsenic a pitcher. He’s done thing beautiful akin for illustration that pinch his OPS. But arsenic acold arsenic nan stolen bases go, I’m not judge astir that.”

Ohtani’s teammates person enjoyed watching him crush location runs and scamper astir nan bases.

“I’m honestly benignant of trying to study from him conscionable seeing nan measurement he goes astir his day-to-day business. He’s very consistent, nan aforesaid demeanor throughout,” outfielder Tommy Edman said recently. “I deliberation that’s why he’s specified a bully player.”

Third baseman Max Muncy added, “Every nighttime I consciousness for illustration he does thing that we haven’t seen.”

What’s adjacent for Ohtani?

The Dodgers are headed to nan postseason successful October, which will beryllium different first for Ohtani. He ne'er made it location pinch nan Angels, who ne'er had a winning grounds during his tenure successful Anaheim.

Another imaginable first could beryllium earning National League MVP honors arsenic a designated hitter. No subordinate who sewage astir of his playing clip arsenic a DH — without pitching — has ever won MVP, though Don Baylor, Edgar Martinez and David Ortiz placed precocious successful nan vote.

It would beryllium Ohtani’s 3rd profession MVP award.