Ohtani gets to 50-50 plateau with 3 HRs, 10 RBI in one game

Shohei Ohtani keeps showing a flair for the dramatic during his historic first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Japanese superstar became the only player in major league history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, doing so with a slew of firsts.

Ohtani had the first three-homer game of his career — all coming after the sixth inning — his first six-hit game and a franchise and career-record 10 RBIs during a 20-4 win in Miami on Thursday. No one in MLB history has done that before.

He finished the night with 51 homers and 51 steals.

“Going for a home run is not the ideal way for me to hit a home run, so I try to focus on quality at-bats,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.

He also stole two bases and nearly hit for the cycle, but was thrown out at third trying to stretch his second double into a triple while showing off his rare combination of speed and power.

His previous bests were 46 homers and 26 stolen bases in 2021, when he won the first of his two American League Most Valuable Player awards while playing for the Los Angeles Angels.

Now he’s the favorite for NL MVP honors.

It seems there are no limits for Ohtani.

He was the fastest player to reach the 40-40 mark with a ninth-inning grand slam against Tampa Bay in his 126th game on Aug. 23 .

Not pitching this season has kept Ohtani’s arms and legs fresher and quicker, while allowing him to focus and improve on other parts of his game. Dodgers fans could be witnessing a once in a generation side of Ohtani’s game. Once he resumes pitching every five days next year, his legs may not allow him to steal as many bases.



(AP Photo Marta Lavandier)