2 weeks Ago By Griffin McVeigh, 5 GOATs
Shohei Ohtani has made history ever since coming stateside with the Los Angeles Angels. Flipping to the crosstown Dodgers this season, the most impressive accomplishment was completed on INSERT DAY — 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season. The first player in MLB history to pull the feat off.
Both the 50th home run and stolen base were gained on Thursday afternoon against the Miami Marlins. Ohtani actually stole two bases on the day, bringing his total to 51. And then after hitting a sixth-inning bomb, he came up to bat in the seventh inning with the chance to make history.
Of course, Ohtani made the moment magical and hit an opposite-field bomb out to left field. Even for somebody of Ohtani’s caliber, this is a special moment in baseball history. Watching the Japanese slugger hit a ton of home runs is nothing new; although, 50 home runs is officially a career-high.
His previous best was 46 during an MVP-winning 2021 season. Stealing bases has never been a huge part of Ohtani’s game, though. Reaching at least 10 It was widely viewed as too big of an injury risk to his throwing arm to consistently run on the bases.
However, Tommy John surgery meant Ohtani would not be on the mound in 2024 and the Dodgers let him get active once reaching. This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission..
