MLB
Shohei Ohtani into the home run record books again
Hideki Matsui hit 175 home runs during the 10 years he played in the MLB while Shohei Ohtani reached the same number in just seven seasons.
Shohei Ohtani, now starring for the LA Dodgers, is synonymous with records, and on Friday night, against the San Diego Padres, he equaled one that only applies to Japanese players in Major League Baseball.
‘Sho’ entered the game with 174 home runs in his Major League career, and in the first inning, he hit a home run to reach 175 in the MLB, matching the record for home runs by Japanese players previously held by Hideki Matsui.
What makes the milestone even more impressive is that Ohtani achieved it in only seven seasons and 2,9741 plate appearances. In contrast, the winner of the 2009 World Series with the New York Yankees accomplished it in 10 years and 5,066 plate appearances. Matsui spent the bulk of his career, seven years, with the Yankees, and concluded it with one-year stints with the Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, and Tampa Bay Rays.
The top 5 Japanese home run hitters are rounded out by Ichiro Suzuki with 117, Kenji Johjima with 48, and Tadahito Iguchi with 44. Among active Japanese players, Seiya Suzuki leads with 36 home runs.
How many home runs has Ohtani hit at Dodgers Stadium?
Before joining the Dodgers with a record contract, Ohtani faced them 30 times, but had only hit one home run at Dodger Stadium, achieved last year. The latest was his third at his new team’s home. The second came on 3 April against the San Francisco Giants and marked his first in Dodger’s blue.