Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, #17, watches his ball soar after hitting his first home run as a Dodger off of Giants pitcher Taylor Rogers, # 33, in the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
Allen J. Schaben | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hit his 50th home run and stole his 50th base of the season on 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 a total of 51 and knocked out two homers — one in the sixth inning and another in the seventh — to reach 50. After his seventh inning at-bat, Ohtani was 5-for-5 with two home runs and seven RBIs.
The two-time MLB MVP known for being a two-way star is not pitching this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery — the second time he’s 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 a WAR 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.
