Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after hitting his fiftieth dwelling run of the season throughout the seventh inning of a baseball recreation 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 grew to become the primary main league participant to exceed 50 dwelling runs and 50 stolen bases in a season throughout essentially the most spectacular recreation 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 recreation.
“It was one thing I wished to recover from as rapidly as attainable. And, you understand, it’s one thing that I’m going to cherish for a really very long time,” Ohtani mentioned by an interpreter in a televised interview.
The Japanese famous person 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 sincere, I’m the one in all probability most shocked,” Ohtani mentioned. “I don’t know the place this got here from, however I’m glad that it was going properly right this moment.”
Ohtani took care of the stolen bases earlier within the recreation, 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 grew to become the third participant in main league historical past with at the 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.
The Japanese famous person 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 a hundred and fiftieth recreation. Ohtani was already the sixth participant in main league historical past and the quickest ever to achieve 40 dwelling 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 greatest 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 often 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,” Dodgers catcher Will Smith mentioned lately. “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 laborious. He’s enjoying a distinct recreation 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 feel he’s emptying the tank offensively,” Supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “I do suppose the facility, the on-base (share), the common, I feel he can try this as a pitcher. He’s executed one thing fairly comparable like that along with his OPS. However so far as the stolen bases go, I’m unsure about that.”
Ohtani’s teammates have loved watching him crush dwelling runs and scamper across the bases.
“I’m actually sort of making an attempt to be taught 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 lately. “I feel that’s why he’s such an excellent 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 Ohtani?
The Dodgers are headed to the postseason in October, which will likely 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 could possibly be incomes Nationwide League MVP honors as a delegated hitter. No participant who obtained most of his enjoying 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.
