Shohei Ohtani becomes the first player in Major League history with 50 homers and 50 steals in a season

MIAMI — Shohei Ohtani became the first major league player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season, with the Los Angeles Dodgers star hitting two homers (plus a third) to reach the half-century mark and stealing two bases to reach 51 against the Miami Marlins on Thursday.

Ohtani hit his 50th home run In the seventh inning, a two-run shot to opposite field to left off Marlins reliever Mike Baumann. An inning earlier, he had hit his 49th. throwing a 1-1 slider George Soriano's 438-footer to the second deck in right-center. He hit his 51st of the season in his next at-bat, immediately after creating the 50-50 club.

He took over the stolen bases early in the game, stealing his 50th in the first and his 51st in the second.

The Japanese star opened the match with a double against Edward Cabrera and stole the third at the start of a double steal with Freddie Freeman, who reached base by base.

Ohtani has been successful on his last 28 stolen base attempts.

He reached the milestone in his 150th game. Ohtani was already the sixth player in major league history and the fastest to reach 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in a season, needing just 126 games.

Ohtani's previous career high for home runs was 46 for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he also made 23 starts on the mound and won his first of two American League Most Valuable Player awards.

Manager Dave Roberts said before Thursday's game that he noticed Ohtani was becoming more aggressive on the bases in the second half of the season.

“I also think Shohei has realized how good of a base stealer he has become or can become,” Roberts said. “I think he likes the challenge of studying pitchers and learning tendencies. I think that’s something that intrigues him.”

Ohtani's previous high for steals was 26, also in 2021. He has not pitched this season while recovering from elbow surgery, allowing him to focus his attention on hitting and baserunning as the Dodgers' everyday designated hitter.