The Unparalleled Phenomenon of Shohei Ohtani
The remarkable talent of Shohei Ohtani lies in his extraordinary ability to excel at every facet of baseball. Now in his seventh season, Ohtani continues to astonish fans and players alike, showcasing skills that seem almost otherworldly. “What he’s doing is nothing short of a freak of nature,” remarked Andruw Jones, a former standout player who finished his illustrious career in Japan a decade ago. “I first saw this kid when he was just 18 or 19, and I could tell he was special. While he didn’t quite shine as a hitter back then, he was exceptional defensively as an outfielder. I often went out after batting practice just to watch him throw; he was that impressive.”
There may come a time when Ohtani takes to the outfield in Major League Baseball, unleashing throws that could redefine the game. For now, however, his current role as the designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers has provided a unique platform to display his incredible speed. As of Tuesday, Ohtani has achieved an impressive tally of 48 home runs and 48 stolen bases, inching closer to becoming the inaugural member of the prestigious 50/50 club.
This season has turned into an extraordinary exhibition of his abilities, especially since he had never previously stolen more than 26 bases in a season—neither in Japan nor in the majors. The feat of reaching both 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season has only been accomplished by two players in MLB history: Barry Bonds, who recorded 52 stolen bases for Pittsburgh in 1990 and hit a record 73 homers for San Francisco in 2001, and Brady Anderson, who achieved 53 steals in 1992 and 50 home runs in 1996, both while playing for Baltimore.
- Historically, hitting 50 homers in a season is a rare accomplishment compared to the number of players who have stolen 50 bases.
- Ohtani himself has yet to achieve either milestone.
“When I did it, there were only 14 players who had hit 50 home runs in a season, and now there are probably over 30,” Anderson noted, reflecting on his own 50-homer season. “Even if it’s 30 or 40, it’s still a very exclusive club. On the other hand, I’m certain that hundreds of players have stolen over 50 bases. So, hitting homers is the difficult part. Typically, players who hit 50 homers are physically larger.”
Anderson himself was the 14th player to hit 50 home runs in a season, while well over 100 players have stolen 50 bases in a season. Notably, some of the game’s most celebrated sluggers—such as Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, and Albert Pujols—never reached that 50-home run milestone.
“Achieving this requires a perfect storm where everything aligns,” said Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees, who hit 59 home runs for Miami in 2017, his only season surpassing 37 homers. “You have to maintain your balance and timing throughout the entire year, avoiding prolonged slumps. Even during tough stretches, you must find a way for your few hits to be home runs instead of singles. The rhythm of your entire season needs to be in sync.”
In 2021, during his first MVP season with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani homered merely twice in his last 21 games, finishing with 46 home runs. Last year, as he claimed the MVP title again, he hit his 44th and final homer on August 23, just before an elbow injury curtailed his season.
This injury necessitated reconstructive surgery, sidelining him from pitching or fielding in 2024. As a result, this season has emerged as the optimal opportunity—perhaps the only one—where he can fully capitalize on his speed. “I anticipate the Dodgers will eventually think, ‘We appreciate the stolen bases, but let’s dial it back to 25 or 30; we can still win,’” remarked Juan Pierre, who accumulated five seasons with 50 steals, tying with Carl Crawford for the most in the 2000s.
“The Atlanta Braves will likely do the same with Ronald Acuña Jr. I doubt he’ll steal 73 bases again; given his knees, they might prioritize keeping him healthy while finding someone else to steal bases. Many players begin their careers stealing bases, like Matt Kemp, but as they age, they tend to slow down, especially if they can hit for power. It’s essential to avoid injury.”
“Once Ohtani resumes pitching, will he even want to risk running and potentially injuring his shoulder? I don’t believe he can sustain these numbers while also pitching.”
This assumption seems sound. As Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently told The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, “It’s a considerable physical toll. I don’t envision how he could sustain this if he were pitching. I doubt he would.”
When Pierre achieved 64 stolen bases for the Dodgers in 2007, he didn’t hit a single home run. In fact, 14 others have managed to steal 50 bases for the Dodgers, yet none have surpassed Davey Lopes’ 10 home runs in 1974.
During Jones’ time with the Dodgers in 2008, he had virtually stopped stealing bases. He stole 56 bases in 1995, which was his last full minor-league season, but only managed a peak of 27 steals in the majors. Only one Atlanta player—Otis Nixon in 1991—ever recorded 50 steals during Bobby Cox’s 25-year tenure as Braves manager, as Jones prioritized defense over baserunning.
“I aimed to save runs,” Jones explained. “In my younger years, I averaged about 20 steals annually. However, as you age, you often wonder whether it’s worth continuing to steal bases or conserving your legs for tracking down fly balls in center field. My team relied on me for that.”
No player has ever recorded more than 24 stolen bases while also hitting 50 home runs in a season. Anderson shared that during his record-breaking power season, a torn quadriceps muscle limited him to just 21 steals. If he had been more of a running threat, however, pitchers might have worn him down with repeated throws to first base.
“The wear and tear from pickoff attempts was far worse than stolen bases,” Anderson said. “Ohtani is a big guy, and that could wear him out, especially with repetitive pickoff attempts.”
Since last season, pitchers have been restricted to two disengagements from the rubber; if they attempt a third without successfully picking off the runner, it results in a balk. Despite this rule change—along with bigger bases, which players feel have had minimal impact—only three players stole 50 bases last season, and only Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz has achieved that milestone this season.
While baseball can adapt its rules, it cannot alter the inherently risk-averse nature of the modern game. Among the last four Dodgers to achieve 50-steal seasons (Steve Sax in 1983 and Eric Young Jr. in 1999), both had success rates below 70 percent.
- Pierre often asked current players, “Why don’t you steal more? The bases are bigger, and pitchers can only throw over twice.”
- Many respond with concerns about their Wins Above Replacement (WAR) being negatively affected if they get caught stealing, leading them to avoid the risk altogether. “I find that astonishing,” Pierre said, recalling that such statistics weren’t prevalent during his playing days.
Ohtani, however, has demonstrated a different mentality: “If I’m going to steal a base, I’m going to make it.” Anderson emphasized Ohtani’s exceptional success rate—48 out of 52 attempts, an impressive 92.3 percent. Only two players in history (Max Carey in 1922 and Jacoby Ellsbury in 2013) have managed to steal 50 bases in a season while being caught fewer than five times.
“Even if he doesn’t steal another base this year, finishing with 47 and four caught stealing is remarkable in the annals of baseball history,” Anderson remarked shortly before Ohtani’s 48th steal. “That’s impressive, and it’s reminiscent of Carlos Beltran’s prowess.”
Beltran, who amassed 312 career steals with an 86.4 percent success rate, peaked at 42 steals in 2004 and 41 home runs two years later. With today’s disengagement rules in place, Anderson suggested that Beltran might have achieved a 50/50 season. However, the most compelling candidate might be Eric Davis.
Davis possessed a rare combination of skills—if only he had been able to stay healthy. After a stunning 27-homer, 80-steal season for Cincinnati in 1986, he followed up with a 37-homer and 50-steal performance in 1987. Unfortunately, in his 17-year career, Davis never played more than 135 games due to injuries, particularly on the unforgiving AstroTurf of Riverfront Stadium.
“It was a double-edged sword; that old turf was fantastic for stealing bases,” Anderson noted. “You could run so much faster on that synthetic surface. While it took a toll on your body, it certainly made you quicker.”
Modern turf surfaces have changed significantly, and Dodger Stadium features natural grass. Ohtani’s spikes never touch the field in fair territory since he doesn’t play defense, yet this presents its own challenges as a base stealer. Pierre, who stole 50 or more bases in five of his 14 MLB seasons, finished his career with just 18 total home runs. “He doesn’t have to endure the rigors of playing in the elements, but what he does is challenging as well—sitting for long stretches and then needing to sprint,” Pierre commented. “I’m sure he stays active on a stationary bike, but it’s not the same as playing defense to keep loose.”
Despite not pitching, fielding, or running on AstroTurf, Ohtani’s ability to combine these two extraordinary skills—power and speed—remains an astounding feat to witness. And let’s not forget: all those home runs have also cost Ohtani some opportunities to steal bases.
“Hitting 50 home runs means you’ve missed 50 chances to do something on the bases,” Pierre said with a laugh. “He’s just trotting around the bases, so he’s doing just fine.”
Pierre chuckled, noting that the Dodgers are in Miami this week, not far from his home. He has yet to see Ohtani play but is considering checking out the spectacle. “You can’t help but feel a bit envious; how can someone be that fast and also hit the ball 500 feet?” Pierre remarked, reflecting on his own career. “It just doesn’t seem fair—what he’s accomplishing is literally changing the game.”
(Top photo of Shohei Ohtani: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
