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In early July, New Journalist Today (NJT) started tracking Shohei Ohtani's historic pursuit of a 50-50 season, long before most media outlets caught on. At the time, U.S. sports media focused primarily on Ohtani's potential to join the 40-40 club. However, NJT's article on July 7 highlighted Ohtani's ability to reach 50 home runs and 40 stolen bases after he swiped two bases in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite not hitting a home run that day, Ohtani's combination of power and speed led NJT to forecast an unprecedented 50-40 season.

 

Ohtani's Baseball Genius is Undeniable, Aiming for 50-40 (Game 91, July 7th) Shohei Ohtani is undeniably a baseball genius. After an impressive home run streak, Ohtani is now excelling in base running as well. In today's home game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Ohtani added two more stolen bases to his record. After hitting a single to center field during the third inning, he consecutively stole second and third base. This brings his season total to 20 stolen bases. The media has recently speculated about Ohtani's potential to achieve a 50-30 season, but a 50-40 season seems within reach at this pace. Although he didn't add to his home run tally in this game, he currently stands at 28 home runs for the season and has recorded four stolen bases in the last four games. Despite a minor injury in June that limited him to just three stolen bases over the month, Ohtani appears poised for a surge in July. Considering his high baseball IQ, reaching 30 stolen bases in July alone doesn't seem out of reach. His two consecutive stolen bases in one inning are a testament to this. It will be an unprecedented achievement if Ohtani joins the 50-40 club. Joining the 40-40 club, which only five players in Major League history have accomplished, seems almost inevitable for him. In this game, Ohtani managed one hit in five at-bats. He is in a tight race for the batting average lead with Jurickson Profar, now standing second with a .314 average. He remains third in RBIs with 65 and leads the league with a 1.036 OPS. Meanwhile, the Dodgers' starting pitchers have struggled with consistency, and Justin Wrobleski's performance in his MLB debut game was no exception. He allowed four runs on five hits over five innings, failing to achieve a quality start. The bullpen also faltered, resulting in a 2-9 loss. The Dodgers now hold a season record of 55 wins and 28 losses, while the Brewers stand at 53 wins and 38 losses.

Fast forward a month, and the conversation shifted from 50-40 to 50-50. Ohtani's batting average had dipped to .164 over a 14-game stretch, and he racked up 14 strikeouts in the process. Yet, his power and speed remained intact. Even during that slump, he hit six home runs and stole nine bases, keeping his quest for 40-40 alive. But NJT began to see something even bigger on the horizon: a shot at 50-50, a feat no player had ever accomplished.

 

Ohtani on Track for Historic 50-50 Season Despite Slump (Game 126, Games remaining: 36, August 19) — Shohei Ohtani is an enigma in the world of baseball. Despite a recent slump, the Japanese star continues to flirt with baseball history. Ohtani, who has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, has the potential to achieve the unprecedented 50-50 milestone: 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. In the last 14 games, Ohtani has struggled at the plate, hitting a mere .164 with 14 strikeouts. Yet, even during this period of adversity, he has managed to hit six home runs and steal nine bases, keeping his quest for the exclusive 40-40 club alive. For the Dodgers, these home runs and stolen bases have been crucial, contributing directly to victories. When asked about his recent struggles, Ohtani stated, "Maintaining the correct posture when facing pitchers is crucial, and I think I’ve been slightly off. However, I believe there are aspects of my approach at the plate that can be adjusted to compensate." As of August 19, Ohtani has accumulated 39 home runs and 37 stolen bases. He is on pace to become the first player in Dodgers history to join the 40-40 club. If his current trajectory continues, a 45-45 season is within reach, and the possibility of a 50-50 season, an achievement never before seen in Major League Baseball, looms on the horizon. To reach the 50-50 milestone, Ohtani needs 11 more home runs and 13 more stolen bases. Given his ability to steal multiple bases in a single game and hit home runs in bunches, this once-unthinkable record now seems within the realm of possibility. In the Dodgers' 3-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on August 19, Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a walk. The game was highlighted by Gavin Stone’s dominant performance, pitching seven innings of two-hit ball with 10 strikeouts, improving to an 11-5 record on the season. Max Muncy, recently returned from injury, also impressed with a home run. With the win, the Dodgers improved to 74-52, tying the Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in the National League. They maintain a three-to-four-game lead over the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. As the season enters its final stretch, all eyes will be on Ohtani as he continues his march toward history.

 

NJT presented a new prediction on September 2, when Ohtani stole three bases. At that time, he had 44 home runs and 46 stolen bases. While some American media outlets doubted the possibility of a 50-50 season, and others predicted at most 51 home runs and 52 stolen bases, NJT believed that Ohtani’s ability to go on streaks in both home runs and steals meant that he could have a big day where he would significantly boost both totals. Defying all expectations, on September 20 (U.S. time), Ohtani hit three home runs and stole two bases, achieving a 51-51 season. With nine games remaining, Ohtani had already surpassed 50 home runs, a feat accomplished with a three-home-run game. The Dodgers have secured a playoff spot, and given how crucial Ohtani's home runs and steals have been to the team's victories, he could very well surpass 55-55. If opposing pitchers don’t avoid him, he can add another nine home runs and nine stolen bases, meaning a 60-60 season is within reach. Statistically, such numbers seem impossible, but NJT’s gut feeling, after closely watching Ohtani, suggests otherwise. And after all, he’s a "manga character come to life." We've already witnessed some of the greatest results in baseball history, and Ohtani is set to continue rewriting history in his remaining nine games.

 

 

Ohtani Sets His Sights on 55-55 or Even 60-60, Not Just 50-50 (Game 138, 24 Games Remaining, September 2) —  In a season where superlatives are beginning to fall short, Shohei Ohtani continues to defy expectations. During a recent game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ohtani recorded three stolen bases, bringing his season totals to 44 home runs and 46 stolen bases. Now, he's just six home runs and four stolen bases away from reaching the 50-50 mark, with 24 games left to play. At this pace, 50-50 seems almost inevitable, and Ohtani might even aim for 55-55 or 60-60. To reach the remarkable 60-60 milestone, Ohtani would need to hit 16 more home runs and steal 14 more bases. While the home runs may pose a challenge, given Ohtani's ability to go on impressive home run streaks, hitting 60 is not out of the question. The stolen bases appear more achievable; if he continues his aggressive base-running style, he could reach this target without much difficulty. The correlation between Ohtani’s performance and the Dodgers’ success is clear. When Ohtani is both hitting home runs and stealing bases, the Dodgers’ chances of winning skyrocket. Following a pattern of having standout performances in two games and struggling in the third, Ohtani rebounded from a previous subpar game with an impressive performance: 2-for-4 with two runs, two walks, one strikeout, and three stolen bases. Although he didn’t add to his home run tally or RBIs this day, his season stats stand at 44 home runs, 98 RBIs, and a .292 batting average. He leads the league in home runs, is tied for first in RBIs, and ranks fifth in batting average. To challenge for the top spot in batting average, currently held by Luis Arraez (.310) and Marcell Ozuna (.306), Ohtani would need to consistently deliver multiple-hit games. The Dodgers, bolstered by Ohtani's base running and two two-run homers from Freddie Freeman (who drove in five runs), secured an 11-6 victory, improving to 83-55 for the season. They now lead the Diamondbacks by six games and the San Diego Padres by five games, holding the best winning percentage in Major League Baseball. Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty delivered a solid performance, allowing just one run on five hits over 5.2 innings, securing his 11th win of the season (against six losses).