Shohei Ohtani is making history as he inches closer to a 50-homer, 50-steal season, with only 13% of the season remaining.
The Los Angeles Dodgers phenom smashed his 45th homer of the season on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians, solidifying his unprecedented 45-45 season with 46 stolen bases. The homer also marked his 100th RBI of the season, tying a career high.
Ohtani’s 413-foot blast to center field off Guardians pitcher Matthew Boyd was the lone bright spot in L.A.’s 3-1 defeat.
Shohei Ohtani is on track for a historic 50-50 season
Prior to this season, the highest combined homer and steal total was 42 homers and 46 steals by Alex Rodríguez in 1998. Only four other players — Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alfonso Soriano, and Ronald Acuña Jr. — had achieved the 40-40 milestone, with Acuña accomplishing a remarkable 40-70 feat last year.
Ohtani’s stolen base prowess adds another dimension to his already impressive skill set. While he stole 26 bases in his MVP-winning 2021 season, he was caught stealing 10 times, tied for the most in the league.
This year, Ohtani has successfully stolen 46 bases out of 50 attempts, showcasing his offensive focus after elbow surgery last season. He has not been caught stealing since July 22.
With 21 games remaining, Ohtani needs just five more homers and four more steals to reach the mythical 50-50 mark. He is on pace to achieve this milestone with projected totals of 51 homers and 53 steals, putting him in prime position for an MVP award.