Shohei Ohtani moves closer to historic 50-50 season with 48th home run against Marlins

Shohei Ohtani moved one step closer to an unprecedented 50-50 campaign following his 48th home run of the season on Tuesday night. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar drove the ball high over the right field wall in their game against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park.

Although Ohtani has been playing solely as a DH this season, he is putting up a historic campaign with the bat as well as his baserunning ability. The 30-year-old has produced an unmatched display of power-speed combination as he closes in on an extraordinary 50-50 season.

The Dodgers were down by four runs when Ohtani faced Marlins right-hander Darren McCaughan in the third inning with a runner at first base. On a 1-1 count, McCaughan threw a low sweeper on the inside corner of the plate, and Ohtani jumped on to it in a flash, sending the ball high into the second deck in the right field bleachers to half the deficit for his team.

At the moment, Shohei Ohtani leads the National League with 48 home runs. He also has the same number of stolen bases, which ranks him in second position behind Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds.

Ohtani had recorded his 48th stolen base against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium last Wednesday, and he also hit his 47th home run in the same game. It was the 12th time he had a home run and a stolen base in the same game, just one short of the record held by Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson.

Meanwhile, Ohtani had gone four games since the last home run, his tied-longest run since July 12. At the same time, he is just one shy of the Dodgers' single-season home run record held by Shawn Green, who hit 49 in the 2001 season.

Shohei Ohtani on pace to reach 50-50 before the playoffs

In August, Shohei Ohtani became the sixth player to join the 40-40 club and the fastest ever to reach the milestone by more than 20 games. Earlier this month, he recorded the first ever 45-45 season in MLB history, and he is now on the cusp of a previously unimaginable 50-50 campaign.

Ohtani is projected to finish the regular season with 51 home runs and 51 stolen bases. He will have just 11 more games after Tuesday to complete the feat, although he will have to go through five straight games without either dropping below the pace for 50-50.