For the first time in Major League Baseball history, a player has reached the unprecedented milestone of hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in the same season. This remarkable achievement was accomplished by none other than the Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani in 2024, adding yet another chapter to his already storied career.
A Historic Night for Ohtani
In a dazzling display of power and speed, Ohtani hit his 49th, 50th, and 51st home runs of the season during Thursday night's game. But his heroics did not end there; he also stole his 50th and 51st bases, showcasing his unique blend of talents. His extraordinary performance significantly contributed to the Dodgers' resounding 20-4 victory over the Miami Marlins.
This astonishing feat marks the 13th time this season that Ohtani has hit a home run and stolen a base in the same game, tying the single-season record set by Rickey Henderson in 1986. With nine games remaining in the regular season, Ohtani has a strong chance to surpass Henderson's mark, further cementing his place in MLB history.
Record-Breaking Across the Board
Ohtani's accomplishments this season have been nothing short of extraordinary. His 51 home runs are the most ever by a Japanese-born player in a single season, eclipsing the record previously held by Hideki Matsui. Additionally, Ichiro Suzuki's record for most stolen bases by a Japanese-born player, set at 56 in 2001, is now within Ohtani's sights, as he currently stands at 51 stolen bases.
Perhaps even more impressive, Ohtani reached the 40-40 club—hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases—faster than any player in history, achieving this milestone in just 129 team games. Despite undergoing elbow surgery last September, which has limited him to hitting exclusively this season, Ohtani has continued to dominate the league. Last season, he led MLB with 44 home runs and was awarded his second unanimous MVP award after pitching 132 innings with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts.
Game-Breaking Performance
Ohtani's performance against the Marlins was historic on multiple fronts. He became the first player to ever hit three home runs and steal two bases in a single game. Remarkably, only 19 other players in MLB history had previously managed to hit two home runs and steal two bases in a contest, with Mookie Betts being the last to achieve this on August 23, 2020. Ohtani also set a Dodgers franchise record by driving in 10 runs, a feat last accomplished by Mark Reynolds on July 7, 2018. The single-game record for RBIs stands at 12, held by Jim Bottomley and Mark Whiten.
In addition, Ohtani recorded 17 total bases in that game, joining the exclusive club of only seven players to accomplish this. Notably, he is the first to achieve 17 total bases without hitting four home runs.
Career-Highs and Future Milestones
This season has been a career-defining one for Ohtani. Not only has he set personal bests in both home runs and stolen bases, surpassing his previous high of 46 home runs set in 2021 and 26 stolen bases in a season. His speed on the bases has been especially notable, with more steals in the second half of the season (28) than the first half (23), despite playing 38 fewer games.
Ohtani's contributions have been instrumental in securing the Dodgers a postseason berth, further galvanizing his reputation as one of the game's most versatile and impactful players. As Green aptly puts it, "Huge congrats to Shohei. If you're going to have somebody tie and eventually break your record, who better than the greatest player who ever lived." The sentiment resonates with fans and players alike, solidifying Ohtani's standing as a generational talent in the sport.
As the regular season winds down, all eyes will be on Shohei Ohtani to see if he can continue to shatter records and set new benchmarks for what is possible in Major League Baseball. As one commentator noted, "Shohei Ohtani is not just making history; he is the history."