Shohei Ohtani surpasses Hideki Matsui’s MLB record for most home runs by a player who is Japanese.
In Sunday’s game against the New York Mets, Shohei Ohtani broke yet another record with a two-run shot.
On Sunday, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers broke Hideki Matsui’s record for the most home runs by a player born in Japan. This is just one more way that Ohtani is making history in the MLB.
In the third inning of the Dodgers’ 10-0 victory over the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani launched his 176th career home run. The Dodgers took an early 2-0 lead thanks to a 423-foot blast off Mets starter Adrian Houser into the right-field bleachers.
Following his final MLB season in 2012, Matsui crossed a threshold that few significant competitors have been able to match. Pitchers make up the majority of Japanese players that relocate to the United States, while many of the batters are built like Ichiro Suzuki, emphasizing contact over power.
On Sunday, Andy Pages’ three-run home run and two RBI doubles helped the Dodgers score eight runs in the fifth inning. After then, the Dodgers easily won the series against the Mets in a shutout.
most Japanese-born players’ home runs in MLB
2. Hideki Matsui, 175 3. Ichiro Suzuki, 117 1. Shohei Ohtani, 176
Fourth, Kenji Johjima (48
5. Iguchi Tadahito 44
Despite the Ippei Mizuhara affair, Shohei Ohtani continues to dominate.
On April 14, Ohtani equaled Matsui’s record and took just seven days to gain sole ownership. Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s previous interpreter, was arrested on that date as well for bank fraud.
Since then, the majority of media attention on Mizuhara has been on her claimed $16 million theft from Ohtani.
Mizuhara gained access to Ohtani’s bank account and stole over $16 million, according to a government criminal complaint that is detailed in great detail. This was done to assist Ohtani in paying off the over $40 million in debt that he had accumulated with an unauthorized bookie. To keep control, Mizuhara allegedly went so far as to call himself Ohtani. He was only taken out when federal agents raided the bookie.
Ohtani’s management apparently worked behind the scenes to prepare a reaction to the approaching reports, but Ohtani was reportedly unaware of the situation until after the Dodgers’ season opening.
If found guilty, Mizuhara may now spend up to 30 years behind bars. Instead of going to trial, his lawyer has stated that they are willing to work with the prosecution to come to an arrangement.