Current:Home > NewsShohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record -EliteFunds
Shohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record
View
Date:2025-04-19 09:30:48
Shohei Ohtani has many more records to break over the course of his baseball career, but he may not have any more fun breaking one than he did Saturday night.
Ever since finding out that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is the team's all-time leader in homers by a Japanese-born player, Ohtani and his skipper have enjoyed a running joke as he approached Roberts' grand total of seven. (Roberts was born on a U.S. military base in Okinawa.)
After Ohtani passed Hideki Matsui on April 21 for the most homers in MLB history by a Japanese-born player with his 176th, he deadpanned that he now had his sights set on Roberts' record.
In their back-and-forth with reporters since then, Ohtani and Roberts were both asked about the possibility of the slugger giving his manager a gift to commemorate the historic occasion. Roberts suggested a new car might be appropriate.
Before Saturday's game against the Atlanta Braves − with the pair tied at seven homers apiece − Roberts got the car.
All things Dodgers: Latest Los Angeles Dodgers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
Later that evening, Ohtani got the record.
His solo shot in the bottom of the third inning off the Braves' Bryce Elder was his eighth of the season. And the torch was officially passed.
"He said he wanted a car," Ohtani said through translator Will Ireton. "I’m glad he’s happy. He got a car."
So what was the significance of the Porsche?
In this meticulously detailed timeline from MLB.com, we're reminded that when Ohtani signed with the Dodgers, reliever Joe Kelly had Ohtani's preferred jersey No. 17.
As a thank you gift for giving up his number, Kelly and his wife Ashley received a brand new Porsche courtesy of his new teammate.
So even though no one could blame Roberts for trying, he had to settle for a miniature version instead.
"I just want to say congratulations and thank you very much," Roberts said, the toy car in his hand after the game. "This is my car. The difference is Joe’s car doesn’t fit in my office. This car fits on my desk."
veryGood! (85)
Related
- North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
- 'Big Brother' 2023 schedule: When do Season 25 episodes come out?
- Mother of US soldier detained in North Korea says life transformed into 'nightmare'
- USWNT captain Lindsey Horan dismisses Carli Lloyd's criticism as noise: 'You have no idea'
- How breaking emerged from battles in the burning Bronx to the Paris Olympics stage
- Review: 'Heartstopper' Season 2 is the beautiful and flawed queer teen story we need
- How to check if a QR code is safe: With QR code scams popping up, what to look out for
- Exclusive: Survey says movie and TV fans side with striking actors and writers
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- As hip-hop turns 50, Tiny Desk rolls out the hits
Ranking
- Michigan lawmaker who was arrested in June loses reelection bid in Republican primary
- The Miami-Dade police chief and his wife argued before he shot himself, bodycam footage shows
- Leah Remini Sues Scientology and David Miscavige for Alleged Harassment, Intimidation and Defamation
- 2 US Navy sailors arrested on charges tied to national security and China
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Niger’s civil society mobilizes the nation to fight for freedom from foreign interference
- Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp dangles the possibility of increased state spending after years of surpluses
- Birders flock to Green Bay to catch glimpse of Gulf Coast shorebird last seen in Wisconsin in 1845
Recommendation
Audit: California risked millions in homelessness funds due to poor anti-fraud protections
MBA 4: Marketing and the Ultimate Hose Nozzle
DeSantis-controlled Disney World oversight district slashes diversity, equity initiatives
'Potentially hazardous', 600-foot asteroid seen by scanner poses no immediate risk to Earth, scientists say
Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy case reaches 'impasse' over NIL information for CU star
Body found in Rio Grand buoy barrier, Mexico says
How much money do you need to retire? Americans have a magic number — and it's big.
Transgender former student sues school after being asked to use boys' bathrooms despite alleged rape threats