From the moment his walk-off grand slam cleared the right-field wall at Dodger Stadium last month, giving Shohei Ohtani his 40th home run of the season on the same night he recorded his 40th stolen base, all the attention immediately turned to what could be next.
Five players in major league history had accomplished a 40-40 season before.
But 50-50? That unprecedented mark suddenly appeared within reach.
And on Thursday afternoon, on the day he experienced his first postseason clinch as a major league player, Ohtani crossed the finish line in awe-inspiring style against the Miami Marlins.
After entering the game with 48 home runs and 49 stolen bases, Ohtani had one of his biggest performances all year.
He stole two bases in the first two innings, picking up No. 50 after doubling in the first (then swiping third by avoiding a bad tag) then No. 51 after an RBI single in the second.
In the third, Ohtani appeared to have a potential cycle on his mind, getting thrown out at third trying to stretch a two-run double into a triple.
But then, he shifted his focus to 50-50 history instead.
In the sixth inning, Ohtani found the second deck of loanDepot Park for the second time this week, whacking a two-run blast that tied Shawn Green’s club record for home runs in a season at 49.
Then, in the top of the seventh inning, Ohtani reached baseball immortality, hitting a two-run home run to join a newly founded 50-50 club of one and give the Dodgers a 14-3 lead over the Marlins.