For the first time in Major League Baseball history, a player has achieved the unthinkable—hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a single season. Los Angeles Dodgers' sensation Shohei Ohtani made history in 2024, etching his name into the annals of the sport with a performance that defies conventional baseball wisdom.
A Night to Remember
On a memorable Thursday night, Ohtani slugged his 49th, 50th, and 51st home runs of the season, showcasing his extraordinary power at the plate. The spectacle didn't stop there. Ohtani also swiped his 50th and 51st bases during the same game, further highlighting his incredible versatility. His dual-threat capability led the Dodgers to an emphatic 20-4 victory over the Miami Marlins.
What makes Ohtani's achievement even more awe-inspiring is its rarity. It was the 13th instance this season where he hit both a home run and stole a base in the same game, a feat that ties the single-season record set by Rickey Henderson back in 1986. With nine games remaining in the regular season, Ohtani stands poised to surpass Henderson's mark.
Historical Comparisons
Ohtani's 51 home runs this season are the most ever by a Japanese-born player, breaking new ground in the storied history of the sport. Additionally, he reached the 40-40 club—a group of players who have accumulated 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season—faster than any player in history, achieving the feat in just 129 team games.
Ichiro Suzuki holds the record for most stolen bases by a Japanese-born player in a single season, with 56 steals in 2001. Ohtani, with 51 stolen bases so far, is within striking distance of eclipsing this record as well. His previous career high in stolen bases was 26, set before this historic season. In home runs, his previous career high of 46 set in 2021 has also been surpassed.
Consistency and Dominance
Ohtani's prowess on the basepaths has been nothing short of remarkable. He stole five bases in April, followed by eight in May and three in June. His stolen base tally surged in the latter half of the season, with 12 in July, 15 in August, and eight in September so far. Ohtani has more steals in the second half of the season, accumulating 28, compared to 23 in the first half, despite playing 38 fewer games.
"Huge congrats to Shohei. If you're going to have somebody tie and eventually break your record, who better than the greatest player who ever lived," lauded Rickey Henderson, recognizing the magnitude of Ohtani's accomplishment.
A Season Cut Short on the Mound
Ohtani has been exclusively a batter this season due to elbow surgery in September of the previous year. Yet, his contributions over the past seasons are no less commendable. In the 2023 season, Ohtani led the league with 44 home runs while pitching 132 innings, posting a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts, performances that earned him his second unanimous MVP award.
Breaking Records and Setting Milestones
Ohtani has rewritten the record books in multiple facets. He became the first player in Dodgers' history to drive in 10 runs in a single game, a feat unmatched since Mark Reynolds did so on July 7, 2018. Moreover, Ohtani recorded 17 total bases in a game, making him only the eighth player to achieve this milestone and the first to do so without hitting four home runs.
"Shohei Ohtani is not just making history; he is the history," goes a popular commentary, encapsulating the essence of a player who transcends the game.
With the Dodgers having clinched a postseason berth, Ohtani's relentless drive continues to elevate an already stellar team performance. As he marches toward more milestones, the reverberations of his unprecedented achievements are likely to be felt for generations to come.