Bob Levey/Getty ImagesOn Sunday Chris Owings Jersey , Shohei Ohtani accomplished something we haven't seen in the majors since 1919.After retiring two Houston Astros hitters, Ohtani hit a statistical threshold last achieved by Babe Ruth, via SportsCenter:SportsCenter SportsCenterShohei Ohtani is the first player since Babe Ruth in 1919 with 50 IP and 15 HR in a single season.Thats 99 years! 0h1kPJL4wLThe two-way player already had 15 home runs on the season as a hitter but was sitting on 49.1 innings pitched until Sunday's start.Although the Japanese star allowed two runs in 2.1 innings on a George Springer two-run homer, it only raised his ERA to 3.31 on the season.Ohtani threw only 49 pitches in his first appearance as a pitcher since June 6. An elbow injury has kept him off the mound and only in the batter's box.The good news is he has been as good as advertised as a hitter, producing a .276 batting average and .897 OPS in 80 appearances this season. In addition to his 15 home runs Archie Bradley Jersey , he also has 16 doubles and 43 RBI.In a sport where most players specialize as hitters or pitchers, the 24-year-old has shown the ability to excel in both.Any time you are in the same category as Ruth it is also a major accomplishment. The Hall of Famer mostly abandoned his pitching career after being sold to the New York Yankees in 1920, but he had 2.97 ERA in 133.1 innings in 1919.He also happened to lead the majors with 29 home runs that season.Considering he went on to hit 714 home runs in his career, focusing on hitting was probably the right move. MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins were 21 games under .500 and playing before another small crowd as Derek Jeter spoke in the fifth inning Wednesday night, so he didn’t sugarcoat the state of the franchise 10 months into his tenure as CEO.“We have a ways to go Curt Schilling Jersey ,” Jeter said. “No one is happy with what has happened to this point. But we are headed in the right direction.”The rookie executive bases his optimism in part on a succession of trades that depleted the major league roster but replenished a farm system that had ranked among baseball’s worst.Reliever Brad Ziegler and outfielder Cameron Maybin, two well-traveled veterans who were not part of the Marlins’ long-term plans, were swapped for prospects at last month’s trade deadline. Miami kept All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto and several other young players who could become part of Jeter’s rebuilding effort.“Every move we make with this organization is always to make us better,” Jeter said. “We’re not in a position of just giving players away. So we’re happy with what we added at the trade deadline. We’re also happy with what we were able to keep here.”The Marlins are interested in a long-term contract for Realmuto, which would underscore a change in philosophy under Jeter for a franchise long accustomed to heavy roster turnover.“J.T. in my opinion is at right at the top of the list as being one of the best all-around catchers in baseball Luis Gonzalez Jersey ,” Jeter said. “He is a guy we would love to have here long term.”The Marlins have relied heavily on young players this season, with decidedly mixed results. One benefit, Jeter said, has been the opportunity to evaluate promising but unproven talent — even players not faring well.“I like to see when guys struggle,” he said. “I want to see how you respond to struggling Gregor Blanco Jersey , because you’re going to struggle at some point.”Not struggling much has been rookie right fielder Brian Anderson, who began the night batting .285 with 37 extra-base hits.“He should be at the top of the list when anybody talks about Rookie of the Year,” said Jeter, who won the award himself in 1996.