Shohei Ohtani edges closer to history and the first MLB 50-50 season

Shohei Ohtani stands on the brink of making history. In a season where baseball’s most electric star has already redefined what’s possible, he now has 47 home runs and 48 stolen bases - an unprecedented combination that draws him closer to a milestone no one’s ever reached: a 50-50 season.

Wednesday’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs in California was just another stage for Ohtani’s magic. The Dodgers, still looking dominant, swept the Cubs in a 10-8 victory. And yet, it was Ohtani who stole the spotlight once again, inching closer to the kind of season that people will talk about for decades.

He wasted no time. In the bottom of the first inning, after the Cubs grabbed a lead, Ohtani sent a ball soaring over the outfield, hammering his 47th home run of the season. You could feel the stadium hold its breath as it sailed. And that was just the beginning. Tommy Edman followed with a two-run shot, and the Dodgers started to pull away early.

Then, in the second inning, Ohtani showed off the other side of his game - the speed that has stunned pitchers and catchers alike. He stole second, leaving the Cubs’ catcher, Christian Bethancourt, standing with the ball in his hand and no chance to catch him. It was stolen base number 48. Just two more, and he’d own half of that mythical double 50.

The Cubs didn’t go quietly. Seiya Suzuki knocked a solo homer in the third to close the gap to 5-3. Ohtani wasn’t done, though. In the bottom of the same inning, he laced a single that brought in two more runs, pushing the Dodgers’ lead to 7-3. His stat line was already sparkling: 2 for 4 with a home run, 3 RBIs, a stolen base, and a walk. A complete performance from a player who seems to be rewriting the rulebook on how the game is played.

By the fifth inning, the Cubs fought back, with Cody Bellinger smacking a three-run homer that made the score 7-6. They even managed to tie it up after a single from Pete Crow-Armstrong sent Isaac Paredes across the plate. But the Dodgers weren’t about to let this one slip away. Gavin Lux knocked in a run to regain the lead, and Edman’s second home run of the night sealed the Cubs’ fate.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Dodgers, though. The Cubs clawed one more run in the ninth inning, bringing the score to 10-8, but Michael Kopech closed things out, securing the win with help from Will Smith and Freddie Freeman.

Now, as the dust settles on another dramatic game, Ohtani stands closer than ever to that unicorn 50-50 season. The blend of power and speed he’s showcased isn’t just rare - it’s unheard of. Every home run, every stolen base from here on out feels like another step toward a moment that could reshape baseball’s future. If Ohtani gets there - and at this point, it feels like he will - it won’t just be a personal triumph. It’ll be a moment the sport itself will never forget.

No matter what happens from here, though, this season has been a joy to behold. Someday, you will tell your grandchildren where you were when history was made.