Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani surpassed former Yankee Hideki Matsui for the most home runs by a Japanese-born player in Major League Baseball.
Ohtani set the new record during the Dodgers’ 10-0 drubbing of the Mets at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.
The record-setting blast came in the bottom of the third with the game in a scoreless tie.
Ohtani sent an 0-1 slider from Mets right-hander Adrian Houser 423 feet into right field for his 176th career home run and gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
The Dodgers slugger hadn’t homered since April 13 – the day he tied Matsui for the record – but had hit a productive 11-for-29 while walking six times and doubling three since then.
“His presence, his ability as a player, he’s just a great player,” Matsui said of Ohtani, according to MLB.com. “The numbers on my end are just not comparable. … I’m sure many of the fans have their expectations as far as what he may do, what he may accomplish. As far as myself, my hope is just that he stays healthy.”
Matsui had set the previous record hitting his 175 home runs over the course of his 10-year career, which spanned seven years in The Bronx, and a year with the Angels, Athletics and Rays.
Matsui retired in 2012.
Ohtani has been off to another strong season, despite the gambling scandal that involved his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and overshadowed the start of his career with the Dodgers.
Entering Sunday’s game, Ohtani had been hitting .359/.419/.630 and had a league-best 11 doubles and 35 hits.
In his final season with the Angels last year, Ohtani hit 44 home runs marking the third straight season that the Japanese superstar had recorded at least 30 home runs.
Ohtani left the Angels organization this past offseason and signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December.
