LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is at it once more.
The Los Angeles Dodgers famous person hit his 52nd dwelling run and stole his 52nd base on Friday evening, breaking the most important league report for going deep and stealing in the identical recreation.
It’s the 14th time Ohtani has achieved the feat, bettering Rickey Henderson’s mark of 13 video games set in 1986 with the New York Yankees.
Ohtani’s heroics occurred an evening after turning into the primary participant in main league historical past with 50 dwelling runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.
“The final couple video games he’s locked in,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned.
He reached on an infield single to first base within the seventh after which stole second.
Ohtani’s 52nd homer off a 3-2 pitch from Kyle Freeland traveled 423 ft to heart area, scoring Max Muncy and put the Dodgers forward 3-2 with two outs within the fifth inning.
Ohtani retains exhibiting a aptitude for the dramatic throughout his historic first season with the Dodgers.
In Miami on Thursday, Ohtani had the primary three-homer recreation of his profession — all coming after the sixth inning — his first six-hit recreation and a franchise and career-record 10 RBIs. Nobody in MLB historical past has carried out that earlier than.
He completed the evening with 51 homers and 51 steals.
He additionally stole two bases and practically hit for the cycle, however was thrown out at third making an attempt to stretch his second double right into a triple whereas exhibiting off his uncommon mixture of pace and energy.
Ohtani was greeted with a standing ovation as he led off the primary inning Friday. Chants of “MVP! MVP!” rang out and followers stayed on their ft with their telephones out to report his at-bat. Ohtani went down swinging however the crowd applauded once more as he walked again to the dugout.
Replays of Ohtani’s historic evening performed on the video board throughout batting observe.
“Individuals identical to to look at greatness,” Roberts mentioned, “and he’s going to go down as one of many greats of all time.”
Rockies supervisor Bud Black marveled at Ohtani’s achievements, though he’d choose the famous person holds off on burnishing his credentials till the three-game collection ends.
“He can begin Monday,” Black mentioned.
Ohtani clearly didn’t get the message.
He additionally singled twice in his eleventh three-hit efficiency of the season.
Ohtani’s earlier bests had been 46 homers and 26 stolen bases in 2021, when he gained the primary of his two American League Most Priceless Participant awards whereas enjoying for the Los Angeles Angels.
Now he’s the favourite for NL MVP honors.
It appears there aren’t any limits for Ohtani.
He was the quickest participant to succeed in the 40-40 mark with a ninth-inning grand slam towards Tampa Bay in his 126th recreation on Aug. 23 .
Now he has 9 video games left to see what else he can do within the common season.
“Understanding him, he’s in all probability 60-60,” Roberts mentioned. “I’d say it’s very unrealistic, however with him something’s attainable.”
The Dodgers clinched a postseason berth for the twelfth consecutive season with their 20-4 rout of the Marlins on Thursday. It’s nothing new for them, however it’s for Ohtani. He has performed 865 video games with out making a postseason look, greater than every other energetic participant.
“He might be very ready and centered,” Roberts. “I believe the entire world is trying ahead to him in October.”
Ohtani made it clear in signing a $700 million, 10-year take care of the Dodgers final December that competing for a championship is what drives him.
“The No. 1 purpose is to get to the postseason and win the World Sequence,” he mentioned final month.
Throughout his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, they by no means made the playoffs or had a profitable report.
The NL West-leading Dodgers want to lock up their eleventh division title in 12 seasons.
Ohtani’s wonderful feats are occurring throughout a season during which his closest good friend betrayed him and he isn’t pitching whereas he rehabilitates from elbow surgical procedure final offseason.
He skipped the House Run Derby throughout All-Star weekend in July to keep away from potential additional harm, though as designated hitter he slugged a three-run homer within the Nationwide League’s loss.
Not pitching has saved Ohtani’s legs and arms brisker and faster, whereas permitting him to focus and enhance on different elements of his recreation. He’s honed his craft of working and stealing bases, studying how you can get good jumps off opposing pitchers by learning video of their tendencies.
Dodgers followers may very well be witnessing a as soon as in a technology aspect of Ohtani’s recreation. As soon as he resumes pitching each 5 days subsequent 12 months, his legs could not permit him to steal as many bases.
The Ohtani impact is seen off the sphere, too.
Followers created mob scenes in and round Dodger Stadium throughout his two bobblehead giveaways. The ultimate Ohtani promotion is Saturday when T-shirts that includes his likeness might be given to the primary 40,000 followers.
Japanese vacationers flock to the stadium for excursions, ensuing within the workforce including extra Japanese-speaking guides. The workforce has signed a slew of Japanese sponsors, too.
“He’s one among one,” Roberts mentioned.