Shohei Ohtani becomes the first Major League player to hit more than 50 home runs and 50 steals in a season

MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani became the first major league player to hit 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season in the most dramatic game of a historic career for the Los Angeles Dodgers star. He homered three times and stole two hits Thursday against the Miami Marlins.

Ohtani hit his 49th home run in the sixth inning, his 50th in the seventh and his 51st in the ninth. He finished 6-for-6 with 10 RBIs and became the first player in the major leagues to hit three home runs and steal two bases in a game.

It was something I wanted to get over as quickly as possible. And you know, it’s something I’ll cherish for a long time, Ohtani said through an interpreter in a television interview.

The Japanese superstar reached the second deck in right-center on two of his three homers at LoanDepot Park. In the sixth inning, he hit a 1-1 slider off George Soriano 438 feet for his 49th.

Ohtani hit his 50th homer in the seventh inning, an opposite-field, two-run homer to left off Marlins reliever Mike Baumann. Then, in the ninth, his 51st homer went 440 feet to right-center, a three-run homer off Marlins second baseman Vidal Brujan, who came on to pitch as the game got out of hand. The Dodgers won 20-4 and clinched their 12th consecutive playoff berth.

Honestly, I’m probably the one who’s most surprised, Ohtani said. “I have no idea where this came from, but I’m glad it went well today.”

Ohtani had already stolen bases earlier in the game, grabbing his 50th base in the first inning and his 51st in the second inning.

He broke the Dodgers’ franchise record of 49 homers, set by Shawn Green in 2001. And he became the third player in major league history to have at least six hits, three homers and 10 RBIs in a game, joining Cincinnati’s Walker Cooper in 1949 and Washington’s Anthony Rendon in 2017.

The Japanese superstar opened the game with a double against Edward Cabrera and took third base on a double steal from Freddie Freeman, who reached on a single.

Ohtani has been successful in his last 28 stolen base attempts.

He reached the 50-50 mark in his 150th game. Ohtani was already the sixth player in Major League history and the fastest ever to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season, doing so in just 126 games.

Ohtani’s previous career high in home runs was 46 for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he also made 23 starts and won his first of two American League MVP awards.

Already considered by many to be the best player in baseball, whose accomplishments as a pitcher and hitter surpassed even Babe Ruth, Ohtani reached new heights as an offensive player when he took a year off from pitching.

Ohtani signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers last December. The two-way star, who previously spent six years with the Los Angeles Angels, has played exclusively as a designated hitter this season as he rehabs from surgery a year ago for an injured elbow ligament.

Preparation was a key to Ohtani becoming the first member of the 50-50 club. He regularly consulted with the team’s hitting coaches and studied video of opposing teams to understand their tendencies with batters and baserunners.

“I see all the work he puts in,” Dodgers catcher Will Smith said recently. “It’s not like he goes out there and it’s easy for him. He works harder than anybody. He scouts really hard. He plays a different game, so it’s fun to watch.”

Ohtani seemed to make the 50-50 mark his mission. He increased the frequency of his base-stealing attempts and in turn, his success rate went up.

But that may not be the case next year, when he returns to the mound.

He’s not pitching this year, so I think he’ll empty the tank offensively, Manager Dave Roberts said. “I think the power, the on-base (percentage), the average, I think he can do that as a pitcher. He’s done something similar with his OPS. But as far as stolen bases, I’m not sure.”

Ohtani’s teammates have enjoyed his home runs and his speedy performances around the bases.

I try to learn a little bit from him, honestly, just watching him go about his day-to-day business. He’s very consistent, same attitude, outfielder Tommy Edman said recently. “I think that’s why he’s such a good player.”

Third baseman Max Muncy added: “Every night I feel like he’s doing something we haven’t seen before.”

What’s next for Ohtani?

The Dodgers will advance to the postseason in October, marking another first for Ohtani. He never made it with the Angels, who never had a winning record during his time in Anaheim.

Another potential first would be to earn National League MVP honors as a designated hitter. No player who has spent most of his playing time as a DH — without pitching — has ever won the MVP award, although Don Baylor, Edgar Martinez and David Ortiz have come in high.

It would be Ohtani’s third MVP award.