Current:Home > NewsShohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record -CapitalCourse
Shohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record
View
Date:2025-04-12 09:22:07
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! (968)
Related
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Watch: 3-legged bear named Tripod busts into mini fridge in Florida, downs White Claws
- Chiefs’ All-Pro TE Travis Kelce hyperextends knee in practice for opener vs Detroit
- United Airlines resumes flights following nationwide ground stop
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Why Chase Chrisley Says He'll Never Get Back Together With Ex Emmy Medders After Breakup
- Sen. McConnell’s health episodes show no evidence of stroke or seizure disorder, Capitol doctor says
- UAW presses Big 3 with audacious demands, edging closer to strike as deadline looms
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- North Carolina’s transportation secretary is retiring; the chief operating officer will succeed him
Ranking
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- North Korea’s Kim Jong Un may meet with Putin in Russia this month, US official says
- 61 indicted in Georgia on racketeering charges connected to ‘Stop Cop City’ movement
- Voting rights groups ask to dismiss lawsuit challenging gerrymandered Ohio congressional map
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- 3 lifelong Beatles fans seek to find missing Paul McCartney guitar and solve greatest mystery in rock and roll
- Why bird watchers are delighted over an invasion of wild flamingos in the US
- Diddy to give publishing rights to Bad Boy Records artists Notorious B.I.G., Mase, Faith Evans
Recommendation
The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
Why Whoopi Goldberg Missed The View's Season 27 Premiere
The Ultimatum's Riah Nelson Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby With Trey Brunson
Best back-to-school tech: Does your kid need a laptop? Can they use AI?
Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
NFL head coach hot seat rankings: Ron Rivera, Mike McCarthy on notice entering 2023
US Open tennis balls serving up controversy, and perhaps, players' injuries
Why dominant win over LSU shows Florida State football is back