Shohei Ohtani stole his 50th base during the first inning against the Miami Marlins on Thursday, bringing the Los Angeles Dodgers star just two home runs away from achieving the historic 50-50 season in Major League Baseball.
Ohtani began the game with a leadoff double off pitcher Edward Cabrera and then executed a daring steal of third base in a double steal alongside Freddie Freeman, who had drawn a walk. This aggressive play allowed Ohtani to score shortly after on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, giving the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead.
Remarkably, he has successfully completed his last 27 stolen base attempts, showcasing his elite speed and base-running skills.
In the previous game, Ohtani notched his 49th stolen base during the Dodgers’ 8-4 victory over the Marlins. Earlier in the series, he hit his 48th home run, connecting on a 1-1 sweeper from Marlins right-hander Darren McCaughan and sending the ball soaring 402 feet into right field.
He has now become the sixth player in MLB history to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season, achieving this remarkable feat in just 126 games, the fastest pace ever recorded.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented on Ohtani’s evolving skill set, stating, “I also think that Shohei realized how good of a base-stealer he has become or can become. I think he likes the challenge of studying pitchers and learning their tendencies. That’s something that intrigues him.”
Ohtani has already surpassed his previous career-high of 26 stolen bases, achieved while playing for the Angels in 2021. This season, he has focused solely on hitting and base running, as he is recovering from elbow surgery and has not taken the mound, allowing him to excel as the Dodgers’ everyday designated hitter.
