Shohei Ohtani hits 32nd homer, sets single-season record by Japanese player

July 9, 2021

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani made history after hitting his 32nd home run of the year during the fifth inning of their 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday.

Record-breaker: Ohtani’s major-league-leading homer surpassed the record for the most home runs by a Japanese player, which Hideki Matsui set in 2004 while playing for the New York Yankees, reported ESPN.

Ohtani, who became the first player to be selected as both a pitcher and a hitter for the upcoming All-Star Game, pitched seven innings to defeat the Red Sox.
Ohtani’s 32 homers are the most made by an American League player since 2013 when Baltimore Orioles’ Chris Davis hit 37.
His 32nd home run is his 54th extra-base hit this season, currently the best in the league.
The 27-year-old baseball star has now hit 12 homers in his past 20 games, extending his own franchise record before an All-Star break.

It’s “Shotime”: Matsui showered Ohtani with praises in a statement to MLB, calling his feat as “just a passing point for a hitter like Shohei.”

“He is an amazing pitcher,” Matsui said. “He exceeds what is considered conventional for a major league player, and there is no one else like him. I hope he continues his success this season as he carries the hopes and dreams of many fans and young children. As a baseball fan myself, I can’t wait to see what he is able to do next.”
Ohtani revealed through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara that he considers replicating Matsui’s achievement “a huge honor” as the player was “someone I’ve been watching as a child growing up.”

A recent feature by Sports Illustrated called Ohtani the best player in the history of baseball, highlighting his phenomenal skills and league-leading scores in home runs and slugging percentage.

Featured Image via MLB

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