Japan reacted with pride on Friday after Shohei Ohtani became the first MLB player to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.

On August 23, Ohtani became the sixth member of MLB's 40-40 club. He joined Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Alfonso Soriano (2006), and Ronald Acuna Jr. (2023) in that exclusive group. Then he took things further. Now he stands alone in baseball history.

MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani became the first major league player to exceed 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season during the most spectacular game of a history-making career for the Los Angeles Dodgers star, going deep three times and swiping two bags on Thursday against the Miami Marlins.