[GLOBAL ECONOMIC TIMES] Superstar Shohei Ohtani (30, Los Angeles Dodgers) finally set the unprecedented record of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases.
Ohtani started as the number one designated hitter in the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) visiting game against the Miami Marlins held at Londipo Park in Miami, Florida, USA on the 20th (Korean time) and hit 6 at-bats, including 3 home runs and 2 stolen bases. With a brilliant performance of 6 hits, 10 RBIs, and 4 runs, he became the protagonist of a new history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season.
Ohtani, who had recorded 48 home runs and 49 stolen bases until the previous day, stole the 50th base in the first attack in the top of the first inning.
After hitting a double that hit the right field fence against Miami starting pitcher Edward Cabrera, he succeeded in stealing third base with a double steal with runner Freddie Freeman on first and second base with one out and runners on first and second base.
Ohtani also scored the team's first run by hitting home on follow-up hitter Will Smith's sacrifice hit.
In the top of the second inning, ahead 1-0, with two outs and first and second bases, he hit a timely hit to right to score an RBI.
Ohtani, who had already stolen 50 bases, attempted to steal again when the follow-up batter, Mookie Betts, was at bat and settled on second base.
Ohtani, who recorded 48 home runs and 51 stolen bases, hit a timely double to left-center in the top of the third inning with 2 outs and 1st and 3rd bases leading 5-1.
However, Ohtani ran to third base but was caught by a thrown ball and was put out.
The 49th home run came in the top of the sixth inning with a 7-3 lead.
Ohtani, who came to bat with one out and second base, hit a 137.4 km/h slider on the second pitch against right-handed bullpen George Soriano and hit a two-run home run.
And Ohtani finally hit his 50th home run in the top of the 7th inning, which extended the lead to 11-3.
Ohtani, who picked up the bat at the opportunity with 2 outs and runners on second and third base, swung at the first pitch from Miami right-hander Mike Bauman and then fouled the second pitch.
He then picked a wild pitch on the third pitch. Meanwhile, third base runner Gavin Lux hit home.
The score grew to 12-3, but Ohtani did not lose concentration. Ohtani took a deep breath and hit his 50th home run of the season, hitting the knuckle curve on the inside at 143.4 km/h on the 4th pitch with 2 outs, 3rd base, ball count, 1 ball, 2 strikes, and over the left wall.
Ohtani, who was looking at the batted ball, celebrated the record with a ceremony that made the Dodgers dugout scream when it became a home run.
Otani passed '50-50' and stepped on to '51-51'.
As Miami widened the score, they brought fielder Vidal Brujan to the mound.
Ohtani showed no mercy against Bruhan on first and second base with two outs and two outs in his last at-bat in the top of the ninth inning, leading 14-3.
In two balls, he hit Bruhan's slow fastball at 109.9 km/h and crossed the right fence, hitting his 51st home run of the season.
Ohtani, who debuted in the big league in 2018 as a double hitter, wrote baseball history on the mound and at the plate, but this year he focused only on his role as a hitter due to the aftermath of elbow surgery.
This is the first time in MLB history that a record of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases has been achieved.
It did not appear in Japanese professional baseball or Korean professional baseball (KBO league).
Ohtani played for the Los Angeles Angels from 2018 to last year, but qualified as a free agent (FA) ahead of this season, signing a 10-year contract with the Dodgers and a total of $700 million (about 929.6 billion won), the largest signing in MLB history. A contract was signed.
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