For the first time in Major League Baseball history, a player has accomplished the remarkable feat of hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in the same season. Los Angeles Dodgers' phenom Shohei Ohtani etched his name into the annals of baseball history by achieving this unprecedented milestone during a game against the Miami Marlins in 2024.
A Historic Milestone
Ohtani’s historic night saw him blast three home runs, bringing his season total to 51. Not content with just power hitting, Ohtani also swiped two bases in the same game, rounding his tally to 51 stolen bases for the year. This extraordinary performance contributed to the Dodgers’ emphatic 20-4 victory over the Marlins and made Ohtani the first player to ever reach the 50-50 club.
Breaking Records and Making History
Ohtani’s dual-threat capabilities have defined the 2024 season. It was the 13th time this year that Ohtani hit a home run and stole a base in the same game, tying the single-season record set by the legendary Rickey Henderson in 1986. With nine regular-season games remaining, Ohtani has a clear shot at surpassing Henderson's mark.
In comparison to his fellow Japanese-born players, Ohtani has set a new benchmark. His 51 stolen bases are nearing Ichiro Suzuki's record of 56, set in 2001, for the most by a Japanese-born player in a single season. Ohtani’s 51 home runs have also set a new high for Japanese-born players, surpassing any previous efforts.
Commentary on Ohtani's Unprecedented Season
"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," said Green, mirroring the sentiments of many baseball insiders and fans who have been in awe of Ohtani’s 2024 campaign. Another commentator aptly noted, "Shohei Ohtani is not just making history; he is the history."
Numbers That Stun
Ohtani's journey to the 40-40 club was the fastest in MLB history, achieving this in just 129 team games. This feat alone underlines his exceptional prowess on the field. Last year, he led the league with 44 home runs, proving that his power at the plate is no flash in the pan. While surgery on his elbow last September has limited him to hitting this season, his previous contributions on the mound—pitching 132 innings with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts—further solidify his status as one of the game’s most versatile players.
Game of a Lifetime
The game against the Marlins was nothing short of a masterpiece for Ohtani. Not only did he break records, but he also became the first player to hit three home runs and steal two bases in a single game. Prior to this, only 19 instances of a player achieving two home runs and two stolen bases in a game had been documented, with Mookie Betts being the last to do so in August 2020. Moreover, Ohtani made history for the Dodgers by driving in 10 runs in a single game, a franchise first. The achievement of 17 total bases in that game aligns him with only seven other players who have ever done so, making his accomplishment even more extraordinary as he did it without hitting four home runs.
A Season of Highs
This season, Ohtani has set career highs in both home runs and stolen bases. His previous best was 46 home runs in 2021, and he had never stolen more than 26 bases in a season before 2024. Analyzing his baserunning, Ohtani swiped five bases in April, eight in May, and three in June. His aggressive running in the latter half of the season saw him netting 12 bases in July, 15 in August, and eight in September to date. Despite playing 38 fewer games in the second half, he boasts more steals (28) compared to the first half (23).
The Dodgers’ Chase for Postseason Glory
Complementing Ohtani’s historic season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched a postseason berth, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting playoff run. As the regular season winds down and the postseason looms large, the spotlight will undoubtedly remain on Ohtani to see what other records might fall and how his remarkable talents will help propel the Dodgers.
Shohei Ohtani's 2024 season has been a spectacle of unprecedented achievements, breaking multiple records and setting new standards in baseball. As he continues to redefine excellence, the baseball world watches with bated breath, aware they are witnessing one of the greatest seasons ever played.