September 19, 2024 will forever go down in the history books, as Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani just became the first MLB player to ever steal 50+ bases and hit 50+ home runs in the same season.
In dramatic fashion, he accomplished this in the same game, stealing two bases and hitting three home runs Thursday night vs. the Miami Marlins.
In view of how it happened, Ohtani stole third base in the 1st inning to give him his 50th stolen base on the year.
Stolen base No. 50 for Shohei Ohtani!
(🎥: @SportsNetLA) pic.twitter.com/EWnSQetBgS— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) September 19, 2024
There goes stolen base No. 51 for Shohei Ohtani!
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/x3LXTbrwtV
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) September 19, 2024
Then he stole second base in the 2nd inning, before hitting his 49th home run on the year in the sixth inning.
SHOHEI OHTANI LEAVES THE YARD 🚀
49TH HOME RUN 🤯
ONE HOME RUN AWAY FROM HISTORY 😮 pic.twitter.com/HYYA1XisR8— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024
So at this point in the game, Ohtani was one homer away from being the only player in MLB history to join the 50/50 club.
And it didn't take long for Ohtani to get his 50th homer, as in the next inning he went yard, which means history has been made.
SHOHEI OHTANI HAS DONE IT
50 HOME RUNS | 50 STOLEN BASES
HISTORY pic.twitter.com/GRVJUCbpja
— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024
With this in mind, he wasn't done, as in his next at bat in the ninth inning, Ohtani hit his 51st home run of the season.
51/51 FOR SHOHEI OHTANI. pic.twitter.com/VoJA2PMFnB
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2024
Ultimately, Ohtani might have had the best game of his career, as he went 6-for-6 with two doubles, three home runs, two stolen bases, to go with four runs and 10 RBI's in a blowout win over the Marlins (20-4).
6-FOR-6
THREE HOME RUNS
10 RUNS BATTED INSHOHEI OHTANI HAVE MERCY 🤯 pic.twitter.com/VMJp9OqgjZ
— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024
Ohtani is known for going all out on record-breaking performances, as just back on August 23rd, he hit a walk-off grand slam, which allowed him to become the sixth player in MLB history to join the 40/40 club.
Now, he has 51 stolen bases and 51 home runs, with nine games left in the season to spare.
Furthermore, the 30-year-old so far this season has 123 runs, 120 RBI's to go with a .294 batting average, which makes him a leading candidate for NL MVP.
Related: Shohei Ohtani Hits Walk-Off Grand Slam To Become Fastest Player In MLB History To Join 40/40 Club