Japanese star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is the first player in MLB history to achieve 50 home runs and 50 steals in one season. On Wednesday, September 11th, Ohtani stole his 51st base of the season as well as hit his 51st home run of the season.
“Never mind in the same game as accomplishing 50-50,” Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes said. “Feels like one of those special nights that will never happen again.”
Ohtani made his professional debut with the Los Angeles Angels on March 29th, 2018. For the past three years, Ohtani has hit at least 34 home runs per season. This season Ohtani has hit more homeruns than he has doubles and triples combined. He has been ranked in the top 5 players for home runs, slugging percentage, and total bases among the American League on the Angels, and the National League this year on the Dodgers.
In the game against Miami, Ohtani batted 6-6, with two doubles and three home runs. He also stole two bases. This game was the first game since 1901 for a batter to have three home runs, and multiple stolen bases.
NHS students talked about Ohtani’s achievement.
“One of the best seasons in MLB Season,” NHS sophomore Nate Staron said. “It makes it even crazier that he’s a pitcher.”
Ohtani is a talented pitcher as well as a batter. He is currently sitting at 608 total career strikeouts. He shows good control of the ball, throwing only 42 wild pitches in his entire career. His ratio of strikeouts to walks are 3.5:1, which is considered good. He shows no fear of any hitter, sitting at only 2 intentional walks in his entire career. Ohtani has taken the 2024 season off from pitching to recover from an elbow surgery. This has allowed him to put all of his focus and talent into his offense, propelling him to his own 50 - 50 club.
“It’s a historic season that people will remember for a while,” NHS sophomore Reid Geissler said.
Ohtani was born in Oshu, Japan, to Kayoko and Toru Ohtani in 1994. Ohtani was born into a baseball loving family. Ohtani and his older brother, Ryuta, were exposed to the sport at very young ages, playing little league throughout their childhoods. By the time Ohtani entered high school, he was a 6’5 slugger and one of Japan’s best young pitchers, with a top pitch speed of 99 miles per hour. It didn’t take long for American scouts to hear about this prodigy, and bring him overseas to the USA.
“He’s one of one,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “A unicorn.”
Shohei Ohtani is without a doubt a generational player, and will be remembered as the first player to ever record a 50 - 50 regular season.
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