Ohtani becomes first 50/50 player in MLB history

MIAMI — Shohei Ohtani became the first player in baseball history to reach the 50/50 club on Thursday, and he did so in dominant fashion — with two home runs and two stolen bases in a five-hit game that could clinch a postseason spot for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ohtani opened the game with a line-drive double off the wall in right-center field against Miami Marlins starter Edward Cabrera, then picked up his 50th steal of the season by swiping third base. A second-inning single was followed by stolen base No. 51. Ohtani then added a two-run double in the third — before getting thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple — and followed with a 438-foot home run into LoanDepot Park’s second deck in the sixth for his 49th home run.

Ohtani came to bat again with runners on second and third and two outs in the seventh inning, prompting many to wonder whether the Marlins would pitch to him. They did — and Ohtani delivered, taking a 1-2 curveball from Mike Baumann and lofting it over the fence in left-center field for his 50th home run of the season.

Ohtani roared as he made his way up the first-base line, then stepped out of the dugout for a curtain call after celebrating with teammates. His five hits in five at-bats and five RBIs were both season highs. Thursday marked Ohtani’s 13th game this season with at least one home run and one stolen base, tying Rickey Henderson’s 1986 season for the most in major league history.

His record-setting home run gave the Dodgers a commanding 14-3 lead, putting them in position to clinch another playoff spot. It will be Ohtani’s first postseason. The two-way star has played in 866 games without reaching the playoffs, the most among active players.

Soon, officially, that will come to an end.