Shohei Ohtani makes MLB history as first player with 50 homers, 50 steals

Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani became the first player to hit 50 or more homers and steal 50 or more bases during a single season in Major League Baseball history on Thursday.

In a jaw-dropping performance against the Miami Marlins during a 20-4 Dodgers victory at LoanDepot Park, Ohtani hit three homers, giving him 51 for the season, while going 6-for-6 with 10 RBI at the plate.

Meanwhile, he also stole a pair of bases, raising his season's total to 51.

The 51 homers set a Dodgers' single-season franchise record, surpassing Shawn Green's 2001 total of 49. The Japanese slugger also posted the first 10-RBI game in Dodgers history, surpassing the previous record of 9 shared by Gil Hodges and James Loney.

Ohtani stole third base in the first inning for his 50th steal of the season. In the sixth, he homered to right center field for his 49th homer of the year, then blasted the historic 50th round-tripper in the form of a 109.7-mph shot to left field off Miami pitcher Mike Baumann.

Thursday's game also was the first time since at least 1901 that a major league player had at least five hits, multiple home runs and multiple stolen bases in a single game.

Earlier this season the 30-year-old became the fastest player in MLB history and sixth overall to reach the 40/40 mark, doing so Aug. 23 with a stolen base and a walk-off grand slam in the Dodgers' 129th game of the season.

Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers before the season and is the odds-on favorite to win the National League MVP award. He took the American League MVP award as a member of the Los Angeles Angels last season and in 2021.