Shohei Ohtani’s Incredible Season

On September 19th, 2024, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first major league player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season. He accomplished that feat in a game against the Marlins in Miami. He came into the game with 48 homers and 49 stolen bases. He then proceeded to hit three homers and steal two bases to set the record with a little to spare. His line score was an incredible six hits in six at bats with three homers, two doubles, two stolen bases, four runs scored, and 10 RBIs. It was one of the better single game performances in major league history. By the way, the Dodgers walloped the Marlins 20-4.

Ohtani has some monster numbers this season. With a week to go in the regular season, he’s hitting .301 with 53 homers and 123 RBIs, plus 55 stolen bases. He should be a unanimous choice for the National League Most Valuable Player Award. Besides his historic 50/50, Ohtani will finish the season leading the NL in home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases, OPS, slugging percentage, total bases, and probably runs scored. If he is the MVP, he will be only the second player to win the award in both the American and National Leagues (he won it in the American League with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 and 2023). Frank Robinson won the NL MVP in 1961 with the Cincinnati Reds and the AL MVP in 1970 with the Baltimore Orioles.

So what could he do for an encore next year? Remember, Ohtani is also a pitcher who is recovering from elbow surgery and is strictly a designated hitter this year. He should be able to take the mound again in 2025. His record as a pitcher in the majors is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA in 86 games, all starts. All those games were with the Angels, a club not nearly as good as the Dodgers. But in the meantime, Ohtani can look forward to appearing in the post season for the first time in his career.

Here’s the highlight reel of that record breaking game of September 19th: