For the first time in Major League Baseball history, a player has achieved the milestone of hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in the same season. Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers achieved this unparalleled feat in 2024, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players of all time.
A Season for the Ages
Ohtani's historic season has been nothing short of extraordinary. On Thursday, he blasted his 49th, 50th, and 51st home runs, a day that will be etched in baseball lore. In addition to his power hitting, he swiped his 50th and 51st bases during the same game, contributing significantly to the Dodgers' 20-4 rout over the Miami Marlins.
This exceptional performance marks the 13th time Ohtani has hit a home run and stolen a base in the same game this season, tying the record set by the legendary Rickey Henderson in 1986. With nine games remaining in the regular season, Ohtani has ample opportunity to surpass Henderson's mark.
Breaking Boundaries
Already, Ohtani has set new records for Japanese-born players. He has smashed 51 home runs this season, the most ever by a player from Japan, eclipsing his previous career high of 46 set in 2021. Ohtani has also come close to Ichiro Suzuki's record for most stolen bases in a single season by a Japanese-born player, standing just five steals shy of Ichiro's 56-base mark in 2001.
Ohtani's all-around game has been nothing short of historic. "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," said Rickey Henderson, echoing the sentiments of baseball fans around the world.
Record-Breaking Performances
In a season filled with jaw-dropping moments, Ohtani has rewritten the record books. He became the first player in Dodgers' history to hit three home runs and steal two bases in a single game. Before this, only 19 other instances existed of a player hitting two home runs and stealing two bases in a game, the most recent being Mookie Betts on August 23, 2020. Ohtani also set a new Dodgers' single-season franchise record for home runs and achieved career highs in both home runs and stolen bases.
During one magical game, Ohtani drove in 10 runs, becoming the first Dodger to do so. Mark Reynolds was the last MLB player to achieve this astonishing feat on July 7, 2018. The single-game record for RBI stands at 12, a testament to the magnitude of Ohtani's accomplishment.
Phenomenal Consistency
Ohtani's stats tell the story of a season marked by consistency and extraordinary performance. He accumulated 17 total bases in a single game, a milestone only seven other players have reached. Remarkably, he is the first to do so without hitting four home runs. His month-by-month breakdown reveals a player who never slowed down. Ohtani swiped five bases in April, eight in May, and three in June. His pace accelerated in the latter half of the season, stealing 12 bases in July, 15 in August, and eight so far in September. Astoundingly, he has more steals in the second half (28) than the first half (23) despite playing 38 fewer games.
An All-Round Superstar
The 2024 season has solidified Ohtani not just as a power hitter but as a complete player. Last season, he led the league with 44 home runs and pitched 132 innings, posting a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts. His dual-threat capability earned him his second unanimous MVP award. However, a shift in focus was necessary this season due to elbow surgery last September. Ohtani has been exclusively hitting, yet his impact remains indisputable.
[Green]"Shohei Ohtani is not just making history; he is the history."[/Green] This sentiment captures the essence of Ohtani's impact on the sport. As the Dodgers have clinched a postseason berth, fans can't help but wonder what more this phenom can achieve. With records shattered and new benchmarks set, Shohei Ohtani's 2024 season stands as one of the most remarkable in Major League Baseball history.