Shohei Ohtani Ties Hideki Matsui with 175th Home Run in the Majors

Shohei Ohtani made history on Friday night by hitting his 175th career home run in the majors, tying Hideki Matsui for the most by a Japanese-born player. The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger launched a solo shot in the first inning of the game against the San Diego Padres, equaling Matsui’s impressive record.

After the game, Ohtani expressed his happiness and honor at being mentioned in the same breath as Matsui, a fellow power-hitting lefty. “It’s just an honor to be able to be associated with somebody like that,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.

The milestone homer came off a pitch from Michael King that Ohtani sent 403 feet into the center-field stands. Despite the loss in extra innings, Ohtani had a strong performance at the plate, going 3 for 5 on the night.

Earlier in the day, news broke that Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was ordered to undergo gambling addiction treatment in a sports betting case involving allegations of stealing $16 million from Ohtani’s bank account. Ohtani declined to comment on the investigation during a group interview after the game.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani for his focus and resilience amid the off-field distractions. Ohtani, a two-time AL MVP, signed a lucrative contract with the Dodgers during the offseason after a successful tenure with the Los Angeles Angels.

With this milestone, Ohtani joins Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki as the only Japanese-born players to reach the century mark in home runs. Ohtani expressed his excitement for the next milestone and the impact it will have on the Japanese baseball industry.

As Ohtani continues to make waves in the majors, fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating his next feat on the field.