Shohei Ohtani surpassed Hideki Matsui to take sole possession of the record for most MLB home runs by a Japan-born player with a two-run homer to right field during the third inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers' win over the New York Mets on Sunday.
Ohtani, hailed as a "modern-day Babe Ruth" because of his dominance as both a power hitter and pitcher, stood and watched as his 176th MLB home run went deep into the stands and smiled as he crossed home plate to break the tie with Matsui and open the scoring against the visiting Mets at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
"Honestly, I was just relieved I was able to just get it over with, I was just happy I was able to do that," Ohtani said after the Dodgers' 10-0 rout of the Mets, which ended a three-game skid.
"We really want to take this opportunity to start a good streak and obviously we tip our hats to (starting pitcher Tyler) Glasnow for pitching an awesome game."
Ohtani has an MLB-leading .368 batting average with five home runs and 13 RBIs since joining the Dodgers in the offseason on a record 10-year, $700 million contract.
He will not pitch this season as he recovers from elbow surgery he underwent in September 2023, but the 29-year-old is expected to return to the mound next year.
Despite his success on the field so far this season, his tenure with the Dodgers got off to a bumpy start when his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was accused of stealing $16 million from Ohtani to cover illegal gambling debts.
Prosecutors exonerated Ohtani in the case and Mizuhara apologized to Ohtani, the Dodgers, MLB and his family through a lawyer after appearing in court on a bank fraud charge earlier this month, where he was released on bond.
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