Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani hit the 176th home run of his major league career Sunday, breaking a tie with Hideki Matsui for the most by a Japanese-born player.
Ohtani's No. 176, off New York Mets right-hander Adrian Houser, was a no-doubter as soon as the ball left his bat at Dodger Stadium. The two-run homer went deep into the seats in right-center field, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the third inning of what would eventually be a 10-0 victory.
The 2023 American League home run leader raised his home run total to five in his first season with the Dodgers, who signed him to a record $700 million, 10-year contract.
"I took a while to get this point since my last homer, so honestly I am just happy and relieved," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. His previous home run was on April 12.
The two-way star also said he aspired to pass Matsui soon after he learned the former New York Yankees outfielder's career total, adding that he is ready to hit many more.
"His presence, his ability as a player, he's just a great player," said Matsui, the 2009 World Series MVP with the New York Yankees. "The numbers on my end are just not comparable."
Ohtani added a single in an eight-run fifth inning and finished the day 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith drove in two runs apiece, and rookie Andy Pages hit his first career homer with two runners on in the fifth to cap the scoring.
Tyler Glasnow struck out 10 in eight innings, improving to 4-1 for the season.
In Japan, Ohtani hit a total of 48 home runs for the Nippon Ham Fighters between 2013 and 2017.
On the all-time home run list for Japanese major leaguers, Ichiro Suzuki, who spent most of his illustrious career with the Seattle Mariners, is third with 117.
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