Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani becomes first player to reach 50/50 club in MLB history

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hit his 50th home run and stole his 50th base of the season Thursday, becoming the first MLB player to reach both benchmarks in the same season.

Ohtani entered Thursday’s game against the Miami Marlins with 48 home runs and 49 stolen bases. He stole two bases to reach 51 and knocked out three homers — one in the sixth inning, another in the seventh and a final in the ninth — to reach 51. Ohtani finished the game 6-for-6 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.

"Let’s raise a glass of champagne because this is a game that has been played for over 200 years," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told his team in the clubhouse after the game. "(Ohtani) has done something that has never been done in this game. It’s really unprecedented. Shohei, cheers to you on something really spectacular."

The two-time MLB MVP known for being a two-way star isn’t pitching this season after he underwent Tommy John surgery — the second time he has had the operation — in September 2023. He is still having an incredibly impactful season, though. Entering Thursday, Ohtani ranked sixth in Wins Above Replacement, one of only six players with WARs above 7.0.

Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with Los Angeles before this season. The Dodgers are in first place in the NL West.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com