Shohei Ohtani Eyes Historic 50/50 Club After 40/40 Milestone

Shohei Ohtani’s incredible 2024 season just keeps getting better. After joining the prestigious 40/40 club on August 23 with a stolen base and a walk-off grand slam against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Los Angeles Dodgers star is now closing in on an even rarer accomplishment—the elusive 50/50 club.

Ohtani, who already holds the distinction of being the first player in MLB history to record 48 home runs and 48 stolen bases in a single season, is chasing history yet again. With 48 home runs and 49 stolen bases, Ohtani is just two home runs and one stolen base away from a feat that has never been achieved in the majors: a 50/50 season.

The 40/40 club, already one of the most exclusive groups in baseball, features legends like Ronald Acuña Jr. (2023), Alfonso Soriano (2006), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Barry Bonds (1996), and Jose Canseco (1988). Ohtani’s addition to that list is monumental, but his potential to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases would put him in a league of his own.

Ohtani’s chase for 50/50 is particularly significant considering how few players even come close. Not only does he lead the Dodgers with his 48 home runs, tying him with Adrián Beltré for the second-most in a single season in franchise history, but his speed on the basepaths has been equally electrifying. His 49 stolen bases are a career high, and he continues to be a nightmare for opposing pitchers both at the plate and on the bases.

With every game, Ohtani’s quest for the 50/50 club becomes the most anticipated storyline in baseball. Dodgers fans and the entire MLB world are waiting for the moment when he shatters the ceiling, and Ohtani is showing no signs of slowing down. The final stretch of the regular season will be pivotal as he closes in on breaking records and redefining what’s possible in baseball.

Ohtani’s potential membership in the 50/50 club could solidify his status as one of the greatest dual threats in MLB history, putting a cap on a season that has already been filled with awe-inspiring moments. Now, as Ohtani sits on the brink of history, all eyes are on him as he continues to rewrite the record books.

MLB 40/40 Club