Shohei Ohtani Continues To Change What Is Possible On A Baseball Field
Key takeaways
- Sports Money Shohei Ohtani Continues To Change What Is Possible On A Baseball Field By Dan Freedman,
- One season, when he wasn’t pitching, the Japanese sensation decided he would steal more bases.
- He is the first player to win the MVP award in both the American and National Leagues since Frank Robinson did so 60 years ago (first with the Reds in 1961, and then with the Orioles in 1966).
Sports Money Shohei Ohtani Continues To Change What Is Possible On A Baseball Field By Dan Freedman,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Dan Freedman is lawyer and IBWAA member who writes about baseball.Follow Author Jun 04, 2026, 07:33pm EDTShohei Ohtani wants to win a Cy Young Award, and he is definitely making a case for it, while still hitting like he always has. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Getty Images Shohei Ohtani has been amazing baseball fans in the United States for nine years. He continues to do things no one has seen before (unless there is someone out there who watched Babe Ruth consistently hit and pitch a mere 108 years ago).
One season, when he wasn’t pitching, the Japanese sensation decided he would steal more bases. So, he stole 59. And did that while hitting 50 home runs (54, in fact). On the day he became the inaugural member of the 50/50 club, he went 6-for-6 with three dingers, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases. Alas, he did not pitch in that game.