Shohei Ohtani produced one of the greatest individual performances in MLB history on Thursday night as he took his dominant first season with the Dodgers to new heights.
Fans in Miami chanted “MVP!” as Ohtani rounded the bases after clearing the fence for the 50th time, becoming the first major league player with at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.
Ohtani surpassed the 50-50 milestone in the most spectacular game of his storied career, becoming the first major league player to hit three home runs and steal two bases in a game during a 20-4 rout of the Marlins that also clinched a playoff spot for the Dodgers.
“I almost cried, to be honest,” Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas said. “It was a lot of emotions because of everything that goes on behind the scenes that we get to witness every day.”
The $700 million Japanese superstar from Los Angeles hit his 49th homer in the sixth inning, his 50th in the seventh and his 50th in the ninth. He finished 6-for-6 with 10 RBIs and became the first major leaguer to hit three homers and steal two bases in a game.
Shohei Ohtani produced one of the greatest individual performances in MLB history
He became the first MLB star with at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.
“It was something I wanted to get over as soon as possible and, you know, it’s something I’ll cherish for a long time,” Ohtani said.
Ohtani reached the second deck in right-center field with two of his three homers at LoanDepot Park. In the sixth inning, he hit a George Soriano slider 438 feet for his 49th.
Ohtani hit his 50th homer in the seventh, a two-run shot to left field off Marlins reliever Mike Baumann. Then in the ninth, his 51st homer traveled 440 feet to right-center field, a three-run shot off Marlins second baseman Vidal Brujan, who came in to pitch with the game spiraling out of control.
“To be honest, I’m probably the most surprised,” Ohtani said. “I have no idea where this came from, but I’m glad it went well today.”
Ohtani came into the game with 48 homers and 49 stolen bases. He took care of the stolen bases early on, stealing his 50th in the first and his 51st in the second. He has been successful in his last 28 base-stealing attempts.
He broke the Dodgers franchise record of 49 home runs set by Shawn Green in 2001.
And he became just the third player in major league history with at least six hits, three home runs and 10 RBIs in a game, joining Cincinnati’s Walker Cooper in 1949 and Washington’s Anthony Rendon in 2017.
‘THIS GUY IS UNREAL!’ LeBron James posted on X.
Ohtani has 120 RBIs, trailing only the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge (53 homers, 136 RBIs) in both categories.
LeBron James was clearly impressed with Ohtani as he watched from a distance.
He also became the first major league player to hit three home runs and steal two bases in a game.
Fans chanted “MVP!” as Ohtani rounded the bases after clearing the fence for the 50th time.
Ohtani reached the 50-50 milestone in his 150th game. He was already the sixth player in major league history and the fastest to reach 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in a season, needing just 126 games.
His previous career high for home runs was 46 for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he also made 23 starts on the mound and won his first of two American League MVP awards.
It was another memorable night for Ohtani at loanDepot Park, where he struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout of the United States for the final out of the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship while playing for Japan.
“I’ve probably had the most memorable moments here in my career,” Ohtani said, “and this ballpark has become one of my favorite ballparks.”
Ohtani, already widely regarded as the greatest player in baseball, whose accomplishments as a pitcher and hitter surpassed even Babe Ruth’s, reached new heights as an offensive player while taking a year off from pitching.
Ohtani signed his 10-year, $700 million 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 while rehabbing after surgery a year ago for a torn elbow ligament.