MIAMI - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently congratulated Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani after he became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.
"He is the first player in major league history to have 50 home runs and have 50 stolen bases in the same season," DeSantis said at a press conference in Bradenton.
Ohtani, who joined the Dodgers on a 700 million dollar deal this season after playing for the Los Angeles Angels, capped his historic night by going 6-for-6 with three home runs and two stolen bases in a 20-4 route over the Miami Marlins.
"I remember when they did 30-30, that was a big deal however many decades ago. I was like, oh my gosh, 30-30. Then the question was could you ever have someone do 40-40," DeSantis continued. "And it was like, you don’t know if you could do it. And I remember a couple of guys did it and it was like a huge, huge deal. But I don’t think in those days it was even under consideration that someone would possibly be able to do 50-50."
Knowing a thing or two about baseball, DeSantis played at Yale University as an outfielder. As a senior in 2001, the future governor hit a team-best .336 for the Bulldogs.
In the seventh inning at LoanDepot Park, Ohtani blasted an opposite field 2-run home run off Marlins reliever Mike Baumann to reach the milestone after stealing his 50th base in the first inning. He also swiped his 51st bag in the second inning and hit his 49th home run in the sixth inning and 51st homer in the ninth inning.
In the process, Ohtani passed Shawn Green for the most home runs in Dodgers history at 49. He also is only the third player in league history with six hits, 10 rbis and three home runs in a game.
"Obviously you would not want to be on the other side of that if you're the Marlins. But it did happen in the state of Florida. "That will be a game that goes down in baseball history," DeSantis added.
In addition, Ohtani's record setting performance helped the Dodgers secure a playoff spot, their 12th in a row. It also will be the first be the first postseason appearance for Ohtani after playing six seasons with the Angels.
Including Ohtani, only six players had reached the once elusive 40-40 plateau in MLB history.
In 1988, Jose Canseco was the first to accomplish the feat with 42 home runs and 40 stolen bases with the Oakland Athletics. Ronald Acuna was the last to reach the mark after he hit 41 home runs and swiped 73 bags for the Atlanta Braves in 2023. Others on the list include Barry Bonds in 1996, Alex Rodriguez in 1998, and Soriano in 2006.
