Shohei Ohtani made history by hitting his 175th home run in the majors, a feat that also tied him with Hideki Matsui for the most homers by a Japanese-born player. The milestone was achieved with a solo shot during the first inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers' game against the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
Ohtani expressed his happiness and honor at matching Matsui's record, acknowledging Matsui's reputation as a power hitter and left-handed batter like himself. The home run, a 403-foot blast into the center-field stands off Michael King, marked Ohtani's fourth homer of the season.
Despite a recent legal issue involving his former interpreter, Ohtani remained focused on baseball during the game and declined to comment on the investigation. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commended Ohtani for handling the situation well and maintaining his performance on the field.
In the game against the Padres, Ohtani went 3 for 5 and extended his hitting streak to eight games, batting an impressive .457 with four homers, 12 extra-base hits, and seven RBIs during this stretch. Roberts praised Ohtani's consistency and composure throughout the game.
Ohtani, a two-time AL MVP, signed a lucrative contract with the Dodgers in the offseason after playing six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Matsui, who played 10 seasons in the majors, was a star player during Ohtani's formative years and the tying of his record holds special significance for Japanese baseball.
Ichiro Suzuki remains the only other Japanese-born player to reach the century mark in home runs with 117. Ohtani expressed his anticipation for surpassing this milestone in the future, highlighting the significance of his achievements in the Japanese baseball community.
Overall, Ohtani's record-tying home run and consistent performance on the field continue to solidify his status as a standout player in MLB, garnering admiration from fans and fellow players alike.
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