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Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season during his team's game against the Miami Marlins Thursday (September 19) night.
Ohtani, 30, hit a two-run home run off Marlins relief pitcher Mike Baumann with the Dodgers already ahead, 12-3, in the top of the seventh, his second of three home runs in the game, for his 50th of the season. The Japanese star stole second base off catcher Nick Fortes and pitcher Edward Cabrera to record his 50th steal and third base for his 51st earlier in the game, making him the first player to hit three home runs and steal two bases in a game.
Ohtani became the sixth player to record 40 home runs and 40 steals in a single season in August, joining Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Alfonso Soriano (2006) and Ronald Acuña (2023).
Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million contract to join the Dodgers this offseason and is currently the favorite to win the National League MVP award, having won the American League MVP award as a member of the Los Angeles Angels last season and in 2021. The four-time All Star is currently leading the National League with 50 home runs, 117 RBIs and a .624 slugging percentage, while the Dodgers are currently in first place in the National League West Division standings and have the second-best record in the National League at 90-62.
Ohtani is currently listed as having -5000 odds to win the National League MVP award, according to DraftKings.com.