Topline:
Shohei Ohtani has accomplished something no other baseball great has ever done: 50/50. And then he went one better hitting a third home run in the same game!
The backstory: That's 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases. He stole two bases and hit three home runs in Miami to get to the 51/51 mark. And, in case you wondered, yes it is a blowout against the Marlins.
What's next: A whole lot of celebrating.
Dodger fans around the world witnessed superstar Shohei Ohtani join the 50-50 club, something no Major League Baseball player has ever done. The coveted club requires a considerable feat: stealing 50 bases and hitting 50 home runs in one season. And Ohtani did one better, he's now at 51-51.
Ohtani broke the record after stealing two bases and hitting two home runs against the Miami Marlins Thursday, stunning fans and players. Then he came back to bat again for his first-ever three homer game as a Dodger.
The hit that put him over the top came in the 7th and already was his second thundering homer of the day.
Ohtani cleared the first hurdle to the 50-50 club when he stole his 50th base early in Thursday’s game against the Marlins — which he quickly followed up by grabbing his 51st base of the season.
Fans at the game got to witness baseball history firsthand: A star player putting his first season playing in Dodger Blue into a potentially historic season.
51/51 FOR SHOHEI OHTANI. pic.twitter.com/VoJA2PMFnB
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
THERE IS ONLY ONE SHOHEI OHTANI. pic.twitter.com/rKgJtW8h2l
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
Note: This hit, a 438-foot blast, tied him with Shawn Green for the most home runs in a single season for a Dodger.
With his 49th home run, Shohei Ohtani ties Shawn Green with the most home runs by a Dodger in a single season! pic.twitter.com/KjQdAeGaX4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
Note: Ohtani quickly followed up this steal with his 51st.
Stolen base No. 50! pic.twitter.com/bnTj7g8gwF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
“It almost seems elective with him that whatever he decides to put his mind to, he is capable of, and it's things that other baseball players only dream about,” said Richard Parks III, Dodgers fan and host of the Dodger Blue Dream podcast. “Fans would only dare to dream in their wildest dreams to be able to watch someone do what he does.”
And when Ohtani crossed that threshold, fans went wild.
HE DID IT!! The Unicorn 🦄 Shohei Ohtani is the first player in the history of the game to have a 50/50 season ❤️🔥🙌🏽
— Alex Curry (@Alex_Curry) September 19, 2024
pic.twitter.com/m4iffcGJjl
“He plays with a fire that you don't really even associate with baseball,” Parks said. “It's normal for him to create these cinematic moments.”
One of those cinematic moments was when Ohtani joined the 40-40 club in August: The bases were loaded at the bottom of the ninth inning when he hit a grand slam to clinch the victory and notch his name next to baseball greats like Barry Bonds and Alfonso Soriano.
“He's what's known as the two-way player, and he's the first player to do that in Major League history since Babe Ruth,” Parks said. “We haven't seen a player who even comes close to his category in about a hundred years.”
Now that Ohtani’s in the 50-50 club of his own, fans – including his international ones – will be watching to see what record he sets his sights on next.
“He's someone who you have to tune in to watch, because you never know when one of those moments is going to happen with Ohtani,” Parks said. “They seem to happen every day.”
Expect a hero’s welcome when the Dodgers return home tomorrow to play against the Colorado Rockies. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m.