Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani becomes first player to join 50-50 club

By Homero De la Fuente, CNN

(CNN) — Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani etched his name in Major League Baseball history on Thursday, becoming the inaugural member of the 50-50 club against the Miami Marlins.

A 50-50 season consists of 50+ home runs and 50+ stolen bases in a single season.

Ohtani, who became the fastest player to record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season, hit his 50th homer of the season in the top of the seventh inning after stealing his 50th and 51st bases earlier in the game.

The Japanese two-way sensation gave the Dodgers a 14-3 lead with his historic home run. Incredibly, he homered again in his next at-bat in the 9th inning, giving him three for the game. He entered the record books in unreal fashion, hitting two doubles, a single, three home runs and stealing two bases – one of the most prolific offensive performances of the season by any player.

The game was the first three-homer game of Ohtani’s career and the first 10 RBI game of his career.

The Dodgers ended up winning the game 20-4 over Miami, clinching a spot in the playoffs.

“I’m glad that the team won,” Ohtani said after the game. “It was something that I wanted to get over as quickly as possible and you know it’s something that I’m going to cherish for a very long time.”

In Ohtani’s native Japan, newspapers rushed out special editions announcing the news.

Top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said: “We would like to congratulate him from the bottom of our heart.”

“We sincerely hope Mr Ohtani, who has already accomplished feat after feat and carved out a new era, will thrive further,” he told a press conference.

Ohtani opened his day with a double in the first inning, accompanying it by stealing his 50th base of the season. After hitting a single one frame later, Ohtani swiped his 51st base. He hit a double his next time up, but was thrown out at third when he attempted to stretch it into a triple.

He mashed his 49th home run in the sixth inning off of Marlins reliever George Soriano, sending a two-run shot to the second deck of right center field at LoanDepot Park to come within one of the 50-50 club.

One inning later, Ohtani hammered a three-run homer off of reliever Mike Baumann, his historic 50th of the season. Ohtani momentarily stood at the plate as he watched the ball travel into the stands before making his way towards first base, shouting in excitement. After rounding the bases and being greeted by his Dodgers teammates, Ohtani made his way out of the dugout for a rare curtain call on the road.

However, his day was not done as he blasted a Dodgers-record 51st home run in the ninth inning, passing Shawn Green for the most in a single season.

“To be honest, I’m the one probably most surprised. I have no idea where this came from but I’m glad that I performed well today,” Ohtani said about his day at the plate.

The closest anyone has come to the 50-50 mark was the Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr., who stole 73 bases and hit 41 home runs in 2023, and Alex Rodriguez, who as a member of the Seattle Mariners hit 42 home runs and stole 46 bases in 1998.

Ohtani starred for six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels as both a slugger and a pitcher, twice winning the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award. This past offseason, he signed a historic $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers.

The historic accomplishment comes after Ohtani faced a personally difficult start to his time at the Dodgers. His longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara pleaded guilty in court in June to fraud and tax charges for stealing almost $17 million from the slugger to pay off gambling debts, a revelation that came just hours after Ohtani’s debut in a Dodgers uniform during the season-opening game in South Korea.

Speculation swirled around Ohtani for weeks after the revelation of Mizuhara’s gambling as questions were asked about what the superstar knew and when he knew it. Ohtani – as well as Mizuhara himself – maintained that he knew nothing of his friend and interpreter’s gambling addiction and theft. When Mizuhara pleaded guilty, Ohtani said he had closure from the sad revelation.

“This has been a uniquely challenging time, so I am especially grateful for my support team – my family, agent, agency, lawyers, and advisors along with the entire Dodger organization, who showed endless support throughout this process. It’s time to close this chapter, move on and continue to focus on playing and winning ballgames,” he said in a statement.

The Japanese star is the odds-on favorite to win the NL MVP award, despite not pitching this season due to offseason elbow surgery. He has 51 home runs, with a .294 batting average this season while helping lead the Dodgers to a 91-62 record, good for first in the NL West division.

With the win against Miami, the Dodgers are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs and give Ohtani his first chance to shine in October. In his time as an Angel, Ohtani’s teams never once reached the postseason.

“Although I switched uniforms, I came to a new team, my goal was always to be in the playoffs and I’m glad that we were able to make it today, personally and as a team,” he said after the game.

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