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Shohei Ohtani becomes first MLB player with 50 home runs, 50 stolen bases

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh09/19/24griffin_mcveigh
Ohtani
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Shohei Ohtani has made history ever since coming stateside with the Los Angeles Angels. Flipping to the crosstown Dodgers this year, his most impressive accomplishment was completed on Thursday — 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season. The first player in MLB history to pull the feat off.

Both the 50th home run and stolen base were gained during a getaway game against the Miami Marlins. Ohtani actually stole two bases on the day, bringing his total to 51. And then after hitting a sixth-inning homer, he came up to bat in the seventh inning with the chance to make history.

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Of course, Ohtani made the moment magical and hit an opposite-field bomb on a 1-2 count, an offspeed pitch right over the plate. A few big hacks earlier in the at-bat showed he was going it. You can check out the full moment from loanDepot Park here.

Even for somebody of Ohtani’s caliber, this is a special moment in baseball history. Watching the Japanese slugger hit a ton of home runs is nothing new; although, 50 home runs is officially a career-high. His previous best was 46 during an MVP-winning 2021 season.

Stealing bases has never been a huge part of Ohtani’s game, though. Reaching double digits was normal for the two-way star but 26 was the highest he ever reached. It was widely viewed as too big of an injury risk to his throwing arm to consistently run on the bases.

However, Tommy John surgery meant Ohtani would not be on the mound in 2024 and the Dodgers let him get active once reaching. More likely than not, Ohtani will revert back to being conservative when on base as he is expected to pitch during the 2025 season.

This may have been his one chance to be the inaugural member of the 50/50 club. And he did it with nine games remaining on the schedule.

Looking at just Thursday’s performance, Ohtani did a whole lot more than get 50/50. Two home runs with two stolen bases, seven RBIs, and reaching base in all five plate appearances would be the lead story for any show in the morning. The Dodgers took a commanding 14-3 lead against the Marlins too.

Getting the job done at home was a thought brought up by play-by-play announcer Joe Davis at one point. Los Angeles hosts Colorado over the weekend, a four-game series. But Ohtani could not help himself, making history in Miami.