MLB: Shohei Ohtani sets new MLB record with 14th game with home run and steal

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is at it again.

The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar hit his 52nd home run and stole his 52nd base on Friday night, breaking the Major League record for hitting a home run and stealing a base in the same game.

It’s the 14th time Ohtani has accomplished the feat, breaking the record of 13 games set by Rickey Henderson for the New York Yankees in 1986.

Ohtani’s heroics came the night after he became the first player in Major League history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.

“The last couple of games he’s focused,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

He reached first base on an infield single in the seventh inning and then stole second base.

Ohtani’s 52nd home run, off a 3-2 pitch from Kyle Freeland, soared 415 feet to center field, scoring Max Muncy to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead with two outs in the fifth inning.

Ohtani continues to display a flair for the dramatic during his historic first season with the Dodgers.

On Thursday in Miami, Ohtani had the first three-homer game of his career — all coming in the sixth inning — his first six-hit game and a franchise- and career-record 10 RBIs. No one in MLB history has done that before.

He finished the night with 51 home runs and 51 steals.

He also stole two bases and nearly cycled, but was thrown out at third base trying to extend his second double into a triple, showing his rare combination of speed and power.

Ohtani was greeted with a standing ovation when he led off the first inning on Friday. Shouts of “MVP! MVP!” rang out, and fans stood on their feet with their phones out to record his at-bat. Ohtani went down with a strike, but the crowd applauded again as he walked back to the dugout.

Replays of Ohtani’s historic night were shown on the video screen during batting practice.

“People just love to see greatness,” Roberts said, “and he will go down in history as one of the greatest of all time.”

Rockies manager Bud Black was impressed with Ohtani’s performance, but he would rather see the superstar wait to burnish his reputation until the three-game series is over.

“He can start on Monday,” Black said.

Ohtani clearly didn’t get the message.

He also had two hits in his eleventh appearance of the season with three hits.

Ohtani’s previous career bests were 46 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 2021, when he won the first of his two American League Most Valuable Player awards while playing for the Los Angeles Angels.

Now he is the favorite for the NL MVP award.

It seems Ohtani knows no boundaries.

He became the fastest player to reach 40-40 with a grand slam in the ninth inning against Tampa Bay in his 126th game on August 23.

Now he has nine games left to see what else he can do in the regular season.

“Knowing him, he’s probably looking at 60-60,” Roberts said. “I would say it’s very unrealistic, but with him, anything is possible.”

The Dodgers secured a spot in the postseason for the 12th consecutive season with their 20-4 win over the Marlins on Thursday. It’s nothing new for them, but it is for Ohtani. He has gone 865 games without a postseason appearance, more than any other active player.

“He’ll be very well prepared and focused,” Roberts. “I think the whole world is looking forward to him in October.”

When Ohtani signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers last December, he made it clear that he’s all about competing for a championship.

“The main goal is to get to the postseason and win the World Series,” he said last month.

During his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, they never made the playoffs and never had a winning record.

The Dodgers, leaders in the NL West, are looking to secure their 11th division title in 12 seasons.

Ohtani’s astonishing performance comes during a season in which his best friend betrayed him and he is unable to pitch as he recovers from elbow surgery last season.

He skipped the Home Run Derby during All-Star weekend in July to avoid possible further injury, although he did hit a home run as a designated hitter in the National League loss.

Not pitching has kept Ohtani’s arms and legs fresher and faster, while also allowing him to focus on and improve other parts of his game. He’s honed his running and base-stealing skills and learned how to get good jumps off opponents by studying video of their tendencies.

Dodgers fans could be witnessing a once-in-a-generation side of Ohtani’s game. If he goes back to pitching every five days next year, his legs may not allow him to steal as many bases.

The Ohtani effect is also visible off the field.

Fans created mob scenes in and around Dodger Stadium during his two bobblehead giveaways. The final Ohtani promotion is Saturday, when T-shirts with his likeness will be given to the first 40,000 fans.

Japanese tourists flock to the stadium for tours, leading the team to hire more Japanese-speaking guides. The team has also signed a slew of Japanese sponsors.

“He’s unique,” ​​Roberts said.