Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani has made Major League Baseball (MLB) history by becoming the first player ever to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.
Ohtani achieved this milestone with three home runs and raised his total of stolen bases to 51 during the Dodgers’ 20-4 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday. The win secured a playoff spot for the Dodgers, marking Ohtani’s first postseason appearance.
“To be honest, I’m the one probably most surprised,” Ohtani said through a translator. “I have no idea where this came from, but I’m glad I performed well today.”
This year has been significant for Ohtani, who joined the Dodgers in December on a 10-year, $700 million contract after six seasons with the rival Angels. He is not pitching this season as he recovers from reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow. Ohtani has also faced personal challenges, including a scandal involving his former friend and interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who stole millions from him to settle gambling debts.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Ohtani’s achievement in the clubhouse celebration. “This is a game that has been played for over 200 years,” Roberts said. “And this is something that has never been done.”
At 30 years old, Ohtani expressed his desire to keep the team’s success in focus. “I’m glad that the team won,” he said, noting that he wanted to move past the attention surrounding his 50-50 pursuit. “It’s something that I’m going to cherish for a very long time.”
Earlier this season, Ohtani became the MLB’s all-time leader in home runs among Japanese-born players, surpassing Hideki Matsui’s record of 175 with a total of 222 home runs in his career.
