CNN —It was perhaps fitting that Shohei Ohtani should achieve one of baseball’s most remarkable feats with an out-of-this-world performance. But despite being kept away from the mound, Ohtani has had a phenomenal debut season with the Dodgers. Ohtani smacks his 50th home run of the season, and with it, earns the first 50/50 in MLB history. Megan Briggs/Getty ImagesEven without pitching this season, Ohtani is still the odds-on favorite to win the NL MVP award, potentially the first to do so having played solely as a designated hitter (DH). A betrayal off the fieldAll the while, Ohtani’s record-breaking season on the diamond has come against the backdrop of off-field challenges.

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Persons: Ohtani –, ”, “, –, Aaron Judge, Ohtani, Megan Briggs, Shawn Green, Ronald Acuña Jr, Alex Rodriguez, Raul Mondesi, Matt Kemp, Dave Roberts, Yoshimasa Hayashi, ” Hayashi, Ippei Mizuhara, Mizuhara, Damian Dovarganes, Mizuhara – Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Major League Baseball’s, League MVP, Marlins, Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, National League West, NL West, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, MLB, ” Dodgers, City of Angels, US Department of Justice, Dodger Locations: Asia, South Korea, Santa Ana , California