It couldn’t have been more dramatic. Shohei Ohtani (30, LA Dodgers), often referred to as a "man ripped from a cartoon," astonished the world with his almost surreal performance, surpassing even the realms of fiction.

  On September 20th, during an away game against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Ohtani showcased his prowess with the bat and his lightning-fast speed on the bases, achieving an unprecedented milestone of 50-50 (home runs and stolen bases). He led the Dodgers to a stunning 20-4 victory, with an unbelievable performance of 6 hits in 6 at-bats (3 home runs, 2 doubles, and 1 single), 2 stolen bases, 4 runs scored, and 10 Run Batted Ins (RBIs).

  Ohtani boldly stole both third and second base, reaching the  record of 51 stolen bases early in the game. In the 6th inning, he hit his 49th home run, followed by a two-run home run in the 7th inning, marking his much-anticipated 50th home run. With this, he became the first player in Major League history to join the 50-50 club, a record that had never been achieved in over 120 years of MLB history. The local broadcast announcer praised Ohtani, saying, “He is one of a kind, and this season is truly unprecedented.”

  In his final at-bat in the top of the 9th inning, Ohtani launched his 51st home run of the season. Despite the game being decisively in the Dodgers' favor, he showed no mercy to Vidal Brujan, who had taken the mound as a relief pitcher. The announcer at the time couldn’t hold back his laughter, saying, “This doesn’t seem real. He’s not human.” Furthermore, Ohtani set another significant milestone in this game. Achieving 10 RBIs, 6 hits, 5 extra-base hits, multiple home runs, and multiple stolen bases in a single game was a first in MLB history.

  Following Ohtani’s record-breaking performance, international media quickly reported the news. Japan's Sponichi Annex shared real-time fan reactions such as, “I felt chills all over my body when he hit that home run,” “This is what a superstar looks like!”, and “Have we ever seen a game like this?” They also reported that he had surpassed Hideki Matsui’s 116 RBIs, becoming the Japanese player with the most RBIs in MLB history. Numerous newspapers even issued extra editions to celebrate the achievement, spreading the excitement throughout Japan.

  The MLB's official home page, MLB.com featured related articles and videos on its main page, while the MLB official online shop displayed a banner announcing the sale of commemorative 50-50 merchandise on its homepage. The ESPN compared Ohtani’s 50-50 achievement to historical feats like Amundsen reaching the South Pole or Armstrong landing on the moon, showing their deep respect.

  On this historic day, Ohtani not only achieved this milestone but also celebrated the first advancement to the postseason throughout his career. He expressed his delight, saying, “I didn’t expect to play such a great game,” and added, “I’m happy the team made it to the postseason.”

  When Ohtani joined the Major Leagues in 2018, few experts saw his potential for development. Most considered him merely a skilled Japanese player whose adaptability to the MLB remained uncertain. Despite these opinions, Ohtani chose the LA Angels, a team open to his unique dual-role aspirations as both a pitcher and a hitter, over the Yankees, who had also shown interest. This decision reflected his passion for playing baseball the way he wanted. It demonstrated his determination and romanticism, traits that may have fueled his relentless drive.

  However, after transferring to the LA Dodgers, Ohtani decided to focus solely on hitting due to an unavoidable choice following elbow surgery last September. At the time, no one could have predicted that this decision would lead to such extraordinary results.

  Though Ohtani had good instincts for stealing bases, he was not known for attempting them frequently. His career-high was 26 steals in 2022, and he managed 20 last season. But this season, things changed dramatically from mid-season. With his teammate Mookie Betts sidelined due to injury, Ohtani took over as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter and unleashed his dormant base-stealing instincts. He had 1 stolen base in March, 4 in April, 8 in May, and 3 in June. But starting in July, his base-stealing speed increased rapidly. He recorded 12 steals in July, an astounding 15 in August, and added 6 more in September. From July 1st to September 19th, he astonishingly accumulated 33 steals. His success rate was even more impressive. With 51 steals in 55 attempts this season, his success rate reached 92.73%, reinforcing his self-confidence in his ability to steal bases.

  As Ohtani’s number of successful steals increased, his march towards this unprecedented record began to accelerate. On August 24th, he hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 9th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, becoming the first Asian Major Leaguer and the sixth player in MLB history to achieve the 40-40 milestone. He proved his exceptional combination of power and speed. The previous players to reach this mark were just five, including Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Alfonso Soriano (2006), and Ronald Acuña Jr. (2023).

  Now, Ohtani has surpassed these MLB legends by joining the immortal 50-50 club. This season, in 150 games, he has posted a .294 batting average, a .376 on-base percentage, a .629 slugging percentage, and a 1.005 Onbase Plus Slugging (OPS), with 51 home runs, 51 stolen bases, 176 hits, and 120 RBIs. His chances of winning the National League MVP are growing stronger.

  Ohtani is not only admired for his incredible achievements but also for his personality. He is known for his friendly demeanor, always greeting people with a smile, and his strong sense of camaraderie. He even keeps a checklist of tasks, one of which includes picking up litter, a habit he continues to practice in his daily life.

  The surge of Ohtani is now becoming a part of history. He serves as an inspiration to everyone striving for great goals. His incredible achievements will undoubtedly be a motivating force for players like Kim Do-yeong, who is expecting the 40-40 record in a season. Like a protagonist in a cartoon, Ohtani continues his relentless advance. How high will his greatest accomplishments reach?