Shohei Ohtani appeared up at a visiting crowd that turned out to cheer him and the Los Angeles Dodgers – and ended up attending to witness one of many best particular person performances, and seasons, in main league historical past.
Followers lifted their telephones to seize the second and chanted “M-V-P!” as Mr. Ohtani rounded the bases after he cleared the fence for the fiftieth time, changing into the primary main league participant with at the very least 50 residence runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.
Essentially the most wonderful factor about it? Mr. Ohtani’s day wasn’t even completed.
Mr. Ohtani raced previous the 50-50 milestone in probably the most spectacular recreation of his history-making profession, changing into the primary large league participant to hit three homers and steal two bases in a recreation throughout a 20-4 rout of the Miami Marlins on Sept. 19 that additionally secured a playoff spot for the Dodgers.
“I nearly cried, to be trustworthy,” Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas mentioned. “It was numerous feelings due to all the things that occurs behind the scenes that we received to witness each single day.”
Los Angeles’ $700 million Japanese famous person 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 large league participant to hit three homers and steal two bases in a recreation.
“It was one thing I needed to recover from as rapidly as attainable. And, you realize, it’s one thing that I’m going to cherish for a really very long time,” Mr. Ohtani mentioned by an interpreter in a televised interview.
Mr. Ohtani 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 ft for his forty ninth.
Mr. Ohtani hit his fiftieth homer within the seventh, an opposite-field, two-run shot to left towards Marlins reliever Mike Baumann. Then, within the ninth, his 51st traveled 440 ft to right-center, a three-run shot towards Marlins second baseman Vidal Brujan, who got here in to pitch with the sport out of hand.
“To be trustworthy, I’m the one in all probability most shocked,” Mr. Ohtani mentioned. “I don’t know the place this got here from, however I’m glad that it was going properly immediately.”
Mr. Ohtani got here into the sport with 48 homers and 49 steals. He took care of the stolen bases early, swiping his fiftieth within the first and his 51st within the second. He has been profitable on his final 28 stolen base makes an attempt.
He broke the Dodgers’ franchise document of 49 homers set by Shawn Inexperienced in 2001. And he turned the third participant in main league historical past with at the very least six hits, three homers, and 10 RBIs in a recreation, becoming a member of Cincinnati’s Walker Cooper in 1949 and Washington’s Anthony Rendon in 2017.
“THIS GUY IS UNREAL!!!” LeBron James posted on the social media platform X.
Mr. Ohtani has 120 RBIs, trailing solely Aaron Choose of the New York Yankees (53 homers, 136 RBIs) in each classes.
Mr. Ohtani reached the 50-50 milestone in his a hundred and fiftieth recreation. He was already the sixth participant in main league historical past, and the quickest ever to achieve 40 residence runs and 40 stolen bases in a season, needing simply 126 video games.
His 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.
It was one other memorable evening for Mr. Ohtani at LoanDepot Park, the place he struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout of america for the ultimate out of the 2023 World Baseball Traditional championship whereas taking part in for Japan.
“I’ve had maybe probably the most memorable moments right here in my profession,” Mr. Ohtani mentioned, “and this stadium has turn out to be one in every of my favourite stadiums.”
Already the consensus greatest participant in baseball whose accomplishments as a pitcher and batter outpaced even Babe Ruth, Mr. Ohtani reached new heights as an offensive participant whereas taking the 12 months off from pitching.
Mr. Ohtani signed his $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 solely at designated hitter this season as he rehabilitates after surgical procedure a 12 months in the past for an injured elbow ligament.
He completed a triple shy of the cycle on Sept. 19, including a run-scoring single and two doubles. He was thrown out at third base whereas making an attempt to stretch his second double right into a triple.
“There’s nothing you actually can say as a result of there’s nothing anyone can do about it,” teammate and former MVP Mookie Betts mentioned. “He’s simply too good.”
First base was open when Mr. Ohtani got here as much as bat within the seventh, however Marlins supervisor Skip Schumaker determined towards deliberately strolling him with the Marlins trailing 11-3.
“If it was a good recreation, one-run lead or we’re down one, I in all probability put him on,” Mr. Schumaker mentioned. “Down that many runs, that’s a nasty transfer baseball-wise, karma-wise, baseball god-wise. … I believe out of respect for the sport, we have been going to go after him. He hit the house run. That’s simply a part of the deal. He’s hit (51) of them. He’s probably the most gifted participant I’ve ever seen.”
Preparation was a key to Mr. Ohtani changing into the primary member of the 50-50 membership. He usually huddled with the staff’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,” catcher Will Smith mentioned not too long ago. “It’s not like he goes on the market and it’s too straightforward for him. He works more durable than anyone. He scouts actually exhausting. He’s taking part in a special recreation so it’s enjoyable to see.”
Mr. 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 might 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 assume the ability, the on-base [percentage], the common, I believe he can try this as a pitcher. He’s carried out one thing fairly comparable like that together with his OPS. However so far as the stolen bases go, I’m unsure about that.”
Mr. Ohtani’s teammates have loved watching him crush residence runs and scamper across the bases.
“I’m truthfully form of making an attempt to study from him simply seeing the way in which 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 participant.”
Third baseman Max Muncy added, “Each evening I really feel like he does one thing that we haven’t seen.”
What’s subsequent for Mr. Ohtani?
The Dodgers are headed to the postseason in October, which will probably be one other first for Mr. Ohtani. He by no means made it there with the Angels, who by no means had a successful document 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 might be Mr. Ohtani’s third profession MVP award.
This story was reported by The Related Press. AP Sports activities Author Beth Harris in Los Angeles additionally contributed to this report.
