Ever since Shohei Ohtani laced up in the MLB, fans have been wowed by his incredible pitching. But since signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, they have been treated to his home runs and his ability to steal bases. All that culminated in one of the best individual seasons in MLB history, where he has become the first to set a 50-50 season, bringing out a reaction from NBA superstar LeBron James.
On Thursday, as the Dodgers set foot on LoanDepot Park in Miami, James was probably glued to the screen back at home. LeBron James saw his fellow Los Angeles superstar deliver a career night to make him a one-of-a-kind player in baseball history. He became the first to score 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.
THIS GUY IS UNREAL!!!! WOWZER.
LeBron James wrote on X
James lifted his hands in acknowledgment, showing that he was witnessing history in the making. The Los Angeles Lakers star admires greatness in other sports and Shohei Ohtani just added on to his greatness.
The 30-year-old from Iwate, Japan, first stole a base to make it 50 bases stolen this season. Then he stole one more to take it to 51. With that achieved, now he had to make it up in the home run department. But for that he needed two.
Time and again, some felt he might not be able to achieve it yester-night. They will be heading home, therefore making history in Dodger Stadium would make more sense. But it seems the Japanese was on a mission to complete the run. He hit three home runs to etch his name officially in the hallways of baseball history.
Shohei Ohtani to play in his first MLB playoff series
Thursday’s game was the last time Dodgers play the Miami Marlins this season. But it seems the Dodgers kept the best for the last. Besides Shohei Ohtani‘s career night, his teammates pitched in to run up the score to 20-4. This statement win confirmed their postseason berth making it the first postseason in the Japanese star’s career.
Naturally the world of baseball would love it if Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge resume the historic Dodgers-Yankees rivalry in the World Series. But with still some time to go for that, he will likely cherish his first postseason.
With nine games still to go before the playoffs start, the baseball world will keep a watch to see where Ohtani finishes in his home runs and stolen bases stats. As any number would just add on to the historic season he is already having.
