Shohei Ohtani is out-of-this-world ridiculous. We already knew this, after all, however his exploits in Miami on Thursday night — 6 for six with three homers, 10 RBI and two stolen bases — have been essentially the most emphatic reminder he might supply. This was the sport he turned the primary MLB participant in historical past to succeed in 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in the identical season. 

After all it needed to occur this fashion. No, he did not attain the plateau with one thing like one stolen base in an 0-for-4 recreation. He burst by way of the barrier with one of many best particular person performances we have ever seen. What extra is there for him to do? 

Properly, I suppose we might ask what extra is there for him to do within the common season?

His subsequent process is to wow us within the postseason. He is sadly by no means had the possibility earlier than, however the Dodgers’ massacre of a victory in opposition to the Marlins on Thursday formally clinched them a playoff berth. 

It feels unlikely that Ohtani might ever reside as much as expectations within the postseason. 

Then once more, coming into this season it might’ve sounded laughable if anybody instructed he’d go 50-50. Simply as heading into 2021, it might’ve sounded laughable that Ohtani would begin the All-Star Recreation as each a pitcher and DH. Or that he’d end fourth in Cy Younger voting whereas additionally hitting 34 homers. 

It might be simple to develop numb to how spectacular Ohtani is. In any case, on this period of 24/7 information cycles and social media, it is simple to get bored with fawning over a man for 4 years. 

Allow us to not take as a right the shattering of earlier ceilings, although. 

Return a couple of decade and examine the Nippon Skilled Baseball stats. There was a 19-year-old child who hit fairly effectively in 234 plate appearances whereas additionally pitching to a 2.61 ERA in 155 1/3 innings. What if somebody informed you this child would come to Main League Baseball and do the next? 

• Hit 46 homers with 100 RBI and 26 stolen bases whereas additionally going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts in 130 1/3 innings pitched in 2021.
• The subsequent season, he had a 144 OPS+ with 34 homers and 95 RBI whereas successful 15 video games and putting out 219 batters in 166 innings. He had a 2.33 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. 
• In his third straight yr of full-time double responsibility, he had a 185 OPS+ with 44 homers, 95 RBI, 102 runs, 20 stolen bases, 10 wins, 167 strikeouts in 132 innings with a 3.14 ERA. 
• He’d then have the first-ever 50-50 season. 

There’s a lot in between that was neglected for the needs of brevity, too, however, even bits and items of this is able to have sounded not solely unrealistic however merely outlandish. Was this state of affairs occurring in a online game? 

No, that is simply Shohei Ohtani. He does issues beforehand considered unrealistic.  

Once more, it is totally attainable some folks at this level simply take his distinctive greatness as a right, or are numb to it and even get irritated by it (observe: By no means hang around with that individual). We should not let our thoughts take us down any of these roads. That is particular. It is not simply generational. I used the phrase “distinctive” above and which means one among a form. There’s by no means been anybody like this. Ohtani has already been a full-time, two-way participant for an extended time period than Babe Ruth was and Ruth by no means stole greater than 17 bases in a season. 

I have been requested earlier than if Ohtani is the best participant ever. He wants extra longevity earlier than that threshold might be reached, however there should not be a lot arguing with this assertion: He is essentially the most all-around gifted participant in baseball historical past. 

For his subsequent trick, he’ll participate within the postseason. 

Main League Baseball has accomplished its finest to market the hell out of this man the previous 4 seasons. When he was mired in relative obscurity with the perpetually non-contending Angels, there was solely a lot the league might do when it got here to an Ohtani-less October. 

Right here in 2024, he’ll lastly play on the massive stage. He’ll want some assist from his Dodgers teammates with the intention to play on the largest stage the game has to supply — the World Collection — however for now, we are able to dream on an Ohtani look within the playoffs and simply what he’ll do with it. 

Given what we have seen from him within the common season, would something even be stunning? 

In all probability not, however we’re more likely to see one thing particular and it will be insanely enjoyable to look at it unfold.