One of the best things about baseball is, that despite the sport being nearly 150 years old, history is still being made. Despite only being in the league since 2018, Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani has, again, made history.
Ohtani became the first member of the 50/50 club on Thursday, hitting his 49th, 50th, and 51st HRs and stealing his 50th and 51st bases in L.A.’s 20-4 win over Miami. Last year, Ronald Acuna Jr. won the National League MVP Award, largely because he joined the exclusive 40/40 club.
Ohtani not only joined that club — he created it. And the best part about it is that he didn’t do it quietly. Let’s take a look at Ohtani’s absurd game against the Marlins on Thursday afternoon.
MORE: Ohtani 50/50 tracker
Shohei Ohtani stats today vs. Marlins
- 6-6
- 3 HRs
- 10 RBIs
- 2 2Bs
- 2 SBs
Ohtani started the day with a double in the first inning and promptly stole third base two batters later. It was his 50th bag of the year, and he was two home runs from the 50/50 club.
Stolen base No. 50! pic.twitter.com/bnTj7g8gwF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
Ohtani singled in the second inning and then stole second base, his 51st of the season. In the third inning, he doubled but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.
Another double for Shohei Ohtani, this time to the opposite field. He was thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple. Unfortunately, the two doubles cannot be combined into a homer. Still two away from 50. pic.twitter.com/gHK3vMG9fs
— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) September 19, 2024
Ohtani hit home run No. 49 in the top of the sixth inning. It was a two-run shot that went 438 ft. to right center.
Shohei Ohtani is 4 for 4 with a home run, two stolen bases and five RBIs.
He has 49 home runs and 51 stolen on the season.
An all-time season by an all-time player. pic.twitter.com/MN51q2OYYy
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 19, 2024
It was already a memorable night for Ohtani, but he didn’t stop there. In a highlight that will be replayed for the foreseeable future, he hit home run No. 50 to left field. In his first season with the Dodgers, he set the franchise record for home runs in a single season.
SHOHEI OHTANI HAS DONE IT
50 HOME RUNS | 50 STOLEN BASES
HISTORY pic.twitter.com/GRVJUCbpja
— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024
The game was long over, but Ohtani got another at-bat in the top of the ninth inning and was facing second baseman Vidal Brujan. Ohtani showed no mercy and clocked his 51st home run of the season to right field. It was a towering shot that traveled over 450 feet.
51/51 FOR SHOHEI OHTANI. pic.twitter.com/VoJA2PMFnB
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
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Ohtani’s historic day
Ohtani became the first member of the 50/50 club and then extended that to 51/51 in the same game. He set and extended the Dodgers single-season home run record. Of course, for Shohei, the history didn’t stop there.
No one in @MLB history had gone 5-for-5 with 2 homers, 4 extra base hits and 2 steals.
And no one had ever gone 6-for-6 with 3 homers, 5 extra-base hits and 2 steals.
Shohei Ohtani did it on the day he christened the 50-50 Club.
There is only one Shohei Ohtani. Incredible.
— Anthony Castrovince (@castrovince) September 19, 2024
Ohtani didn’t set the single-game record for total bases in a game. That is still held by fellow Dodger Shawn Green, who had 19, but Ohtani’s 17 ranks as still one of the top five offensive performances in history.
Here is the entire list of players before today with 17 total bases in a game. Shohei Ohtani is the first to do it without hitting four home runs. He is the only one to steal a base (he swiped two).
On the day he went 50/50, Ohtani had one of the greatest games in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/XSj8APy2EP
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 20, 2024
