“In Major League Baseball, Shohei Ohtani made his mark in history as the first player to hit 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season.”
Ohtani concluded his 2023 season with a remarkable total of 51 home runs and 51 stolen bases, following an acquisition made by the Los Angeles Dodgers of Luis, who only last month accounted for a roster spot while leading the Miami Marlins 20-4 with 2 home runs.
The most exciting part of the accomplishment was shared by the 30-year-old when he stole third during the first inning. He earned another stolen base before hitting his 49th home run in the sixth inning, which tied a Dodgers franchise record for home runs in a single season with Shawn Green, who accomplished the same feat in 2001. During the following inning, he would add his 50th home run to claim the record as the only player to accomplish this extraordinary record.
“To be honest, I think I probably surprise myself more than anybody else,” concluded Shohei. NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs also responded to Ohtani’s record via X (formerly Twitter) calling it “insane.” Likewise, basketball star LeBron James noted, “This guy is unreal! Wowzers.”
MLB ambassador and former World Series champion Chase Utley said to BBC Sport that Ohtani was “truly one of a kind.” “To do it in his first year in a Dodgers uniform is pretty special. He’s definitely set himself apart as the best [current] player in the league,” Utley added. “If he continues the pace throughout the time of his contract, he could be considered one of the, if not the, best players to play the game. You couldn’t dream of a season like that! He can really do it all. You don’t see a player that can not only hit the ball out of the ballpark but run the bases and steal as many bases.” “He’s fortunate to be the first, and I can’t imagine many doing it and being close for a while,” Utley said. “I don’t even see the possibility.”
