Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after hitting his fiftieth house run of the season throughout the seventh inning of a baseball sport in opposition to the Miami Marlins on Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami.
Marta Lavandier/AP
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Marta Lavandier/AP
MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani turned the primary main league participant to exceed 50 house runs and 50 stolen bases in a season throughout essentially the most spectacular sport of a history-making profession for the Los Angeles Dodgers star, going deep thrice and swiping two luggage on Thursday in opposition to the Miami Marlins.
Ohtani hit his forty ninth homer within the sixth inning, his fiftieth within the seventh and his 51st within the ninth. He completed 6 for six with 10 RBIs whereas changing into the primary massive league participant to hit three homers and steal two bases in a sport.
“It was one thing I needed to recover from as shortly as doable. And, you realize, it’s one thing that I’m going to cherish for a really very long time,” Ohtani mentioned by means of an interpreter in a televised interview.
The Japanese celebrity reached the second deck in right-center on two of his three homers at LoanDepot Park. Within the sixth inning, he launched a 1-1 slider from George Soriano 438 toes for his forty ninth.
Ohtani hit his fiftieth homer within the seventh inning, an opposite-field, two-run shot to left in opposition to Marlins reliever Mike Baumann. Then, within the ninth, his 51st traveled 440 toes to right-center, a three-run shot in opposition to Marlins second baseman Vidal Brujan, who got here in to pitch with the sport out of hand.
The Dodgers received 20-4 and clinched their twelfth straight playoff berth.
“To be trustworthy, I’m the one in all probability most stunned,” Ohtani mentioned. “I do not know the place this got here from, however I’m glad that it was going effectively right now.”
Ohtani took care of the stolen bases earlier within the sport, swiping his fiftieth within the first and his 51st within the second.
He broke the Dodgers’ franchise report of 49 homers set by Shawn Inexperienced in 2001. And he turned the third participant in main league historical past with not less than six hits, three homers and 10 RBIs in a sport, becoming a member of Cincinnati’s Walker Cooper in 1949 and Washington’s Anthony Rendon in 2017.
The Japanese celebrity led off the sport with double in opposition to Edward Cabrera and swiped third on the entrance finish of a double steal with Freddie Freeman, who reached on a stroll.
Ohtani has been profitable on his final 28 stolen base makes an attempt.
He reached the 50-50 milestone in his one hundred and fiftieth sport. Ohtani was already the sixth participant in main league historical past and the quickest ever to succeed in 40 house runs and 40 stolen bases in a season, needing simply 126 video games.
Ohtani’s earlier profession excessive in homers was 46 for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he additionally made 23 begins on the mound and received his first of two American League MVP awards.
Already the consensus finest participant in baseball whose accomplishments as a pitcher and batter outpaced even Babe Ruth, Ohtani reached new heights as an offensive participant whereas taking the 12 months off from pitching.
Ohtani signed a $700 million, 10-year cope with the Dodgers final December. The 2-way star, who beforehand spent six years with the Los Angeles Angels, has performed completely at designated hitter this season as he rehabilitates after surgical procedure a 12 months in the past for an injured elbow ligament.
Preparation was a key to Ohtani changing into the primary member of the 50-50 membership. He usually huddled with the crew’s hitting coaches and studied video of opposing pitchers to grasp their tendencies with hitters and baserunners.
“I see all of the work he places in,” Dodgers catcher Will Smith mentioned not too long ago. “It’s not like he goes on the market and it’s too simple for him. He works more durable than anyone. He scouts actually onerous. He’s taking part in a distinct sport so it’s enjoyable to see.”
Ohtani appeared to make the 50-50 mark his mission. He elevated the frequency of his base-stealing makes an attempt and in flip his success fee went up.
However that will not be the case subsequent 12 months when he returns to the mound.
“He’s not pitching this 12 months so I believe he’s emptying the tank offensively,” Supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “I do suppose the ability, the on-base (share), the common, I believe he can try this as a pitcher. He’s accomplished one thing fairly comparable like that together with his OPS. However so far as the stolen bases go, I’m undecided about that.”
Ohtani’s teammates have loved watching him crush house runs and scamper across the bases.
“I’m truthfully form of making an attempt to study from him simply seeing the best way he goes about his day-to-day enterprise. He’s very constant, the identical demeanor all through,” outfielder Tommy Edman mentioned not too long ago. “I believe that’s why he’s such a very good participant.”
Third baseman Max Muncy added, “Each night time I really feel like he does one thing that we haven’t seen.”
What’s subsequent for Ohtani?
The Dodgers are headed to the postseason in October, which can be one other first for Ohtani. He by no means made it there with the Angels, who by no means had a profitable report throughout his tenure in Anaheim.
One other potential first may very well be incomes Nationwide League MVP honors as a chosen hitter. No participant who received most of his taking part in time as a DH — with out pitching — has ever received MVP, though Don Baylor, Edgar Martinez and David Ortiz positioned excessive within the vote.
It will be Ohtani’s third profession MVP award.