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ESPN News Services
Apr 21, 2024, 05:22 PM ET
LOS ANGELES– Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani has actually broken Hideki Matsui’s record for the most homers struck by a Japanese-born gamer in Major League Baseball.
Ohtani squashed a two-run homer deep into the right-field bleachers off Adrian Houser of the New York Mets in the 3rd inning of L.A.’s 10-0 win Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
The homer was the 176th of Ohtani’s six-plus seasons in the majors. That’s another than Matsui, the previous New York Yankees slugger who played the last 10 seasons of his 20-year professional profession in North America.
“Honestly, I was simply eliminated I had the ability to get it over with,” Ohtani stated through his interpreter, Will Ireton.
Ohtani appreciated and imitated Matsui while maturing in Japan throughout the prime of Matsui’s MLB profession. Ohtani stated the record was “not something I was cognizant of when I initially began my profession here, however as I got to understand about it,” he started to pay attention to his location behind Matsui.
When Ohtani was asked whether he likewise intends to replicate Matsui’s well known playoff grace if and when he lastly reaches the MLB postseason, Ohtani joked that he presently is more concentrated on breaking supervisor Dave Roberts’ record for the most homers by a Japanese-born gamer in a Dodgers uniform.
Roberts leads Ohtani 7-5 because competitors.
“Hideki Matsui was a fantastic ballplayer, a terrific crowning achievement player, a world champ,” Roberts stated. “I understand that Shohei appreciated him, so for him to eclipse that mark, it’s a huge offer. I understand whatever type of mark leads Shohei, he’s attempting to take them all down.”
Ohtani’s record-breaking blast was struck 423 feet with a 110 miles per hour exit speed, and it put the Dodgers up 2-0. Ohtani had not homered in his previous 7 video games, however he went 2-for-3 with a single, a walk and 2 runs scored in the Dodgers’ blowout triumph, which snapped a three-game losing streak.
“We simply attempted a backdoor slider with that, and simply wasn’t able to keep it out [of the strike zone],” Houser stated. “You leave a pitch down the middle to him, he’s going to put an excellent swing on it, much like he did.”
The homer was Ohtani’s 5th in his very first 24 video games for the Dodgers, who signed the two-time American League MVP to a $700 million agreement last winter season. Ohtani struck 171 homers in 6 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
“It’s remarkable,” colleague Tyler Glasnow stated. “I’m sure he’ll have a lot more records while we’re playing here.”
The Associated Press added to this report.