For the first time in Major League Baseball history, a player has achieved the milestone of hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in the same season. This groundbreaking achievement belongs to none other than the Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, whose remarkable 2024 season has left both fans and analysts in awe.
A Season for the Ages
On a spectacular Thursday night, Ohtani hit his 49th, 50th, and 51st home runs of the season, solidifying his place in the annals of baseball history. Equally impressive, he stole his 50th and 51st bases during the same game, contributing significantly to a commanding 20-4 victory over the Miami Marlins. This dual feat of home runs and stolen bases in a single game is a rarity, achieved only 13 times in the same season, tying the record set by the Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson in 1986. With nine games remaining in the regular season, Ohtani has a chance to eclipse this historic mark.
Shattering Records
Ohtani's performance this season has been nothing short of sensational. His 51 home runs are the most ever by a Japanese-born player, surpassing the previous records and setting new benchmarks. He also became the quickest player to join the 40-40 club, reaching the milestone in just 129 team games. "Shohei Ohtani is not just making history; he is the history," an enthusiastic commentator aptly noted, encapsulating the sentiments of many fans and pundits alike.
In addition to his offensive prowess, Ohtani has rewritten the record books in various other categories. He became the first player in Dodgers' history to drive in 10 runs in a single game, a feat last accomplished by Mark Reynolds on July 7, 2018. Remarkably, he recorded 17 total bases in a single game, a rare accomplishment that only seven players have matched in baseball history. Ohtani stands alone in achieving this feat without hitting four home runs in a game.
Climbing the Stolen Base Ladder
While his power-hitting has grabbed headlines, Ohtani's base-stealing ability has been equally phenomenal. He has accumulated 51 stolen bases so far, putting him in striking distance of Ichiro Suzuki's record of 56 stolen bases in a single season by a Japanese-born player. Notably, Ohtani has been more prolific in the second half of the season, swiping 28 bases compared to 23 in the first half, despite playing 38 fewer games. His month-to-month breakdown reveals a surge in July, August, and September, highlighting his sustained athleticism and strategic acumen throughout the grueling season.
Unmatched Versatility
Ohtani's exceptional 2024 season is even more impressive considering that he has been exclusively hitting due to elbow surgery last September. Despite this limitation, his offensive stats this year have dwarfed his previous benchmarks, including his career-high of 46 home runs set in 2021 and a previous high of 26 stolen bases in one season. Last year, Ohtani led the league with 44 home runs, pitched 132 innings with a 3.14 ERA, and fanned 167 batters, earning his second unanimous MVP award.
"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, reflecting the unanimous respect and admiration Ohtani garners across the baseball community.
Beyond individual accomplishments, Ohtani's exploits have propelled the Dodgers to clinch a postseason berth, setting the stage for a potentially deep playoff run. As he continues to defy the limitations of conventional baseball wisdom, Shohei Ohtani is forging a legacy that transcends nationalities and eras, compelling us to watch, marvel, and appreciate the sheer brilliance of his game.
In a sport steeped in statistics and history, Ohtani's extraordinary versatility and unmatched achievements in 2024 not only define a season but could very well redefine the possibilities of the game itself. There is little doubt that Shohei Ohtani is not merely participating in the sport; he is reshaping its very boundaries.