Current:Home > StocksShohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record -AdvancementTrade
Shohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record
View
Date:2025-04-27 20:44:57
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! (8)
Related
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Underwater noises detected in area of search for sub that was heading to Titanic wreckage, Coast Guard says
- What Dr. Fauci Can Learn from Climate Scientists About Responding to Personal Attacks Over Covid-19
- Ireland Baldwin Shares Glimpse Into Her First Week of Motherhood With Baby Holland
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- The pandemic-era rule that lets you get telehealth prescriptions just got extended
- It's never too late to explore your gender identity. Here's how to start
- Dangerously high temperatures hit South as thousands remain without power
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta other tech firms agree to AI safeguards set by White House
Ranking
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- When a prison sentence becomes a death sentence
- The truth about teens, social media and the mental health crisis
- Titan submersible maker OceanGate faced safety lawsuit in 2018: Potential danger to passengers
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Post-pandemic, even hospital care goes remote
- Senate weighs bill to strip failed bank executives of pay
- Major Tar Sands Oil Pipeline Cancelled, Dealing Blow to Canada’s Export Hopes
Recommendation
Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
This shade of gray can add $2,500 to the value of your home
ESPN's College Gameday will open 2023 college football season at battle of Carolinas
Kim Kardashian Shares How Growing Up With Cameras Affects Her Kids
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
A woman almost lost thousands to scammers after her email was hacked. How can you protect yourself?
What Dr. Fauci Can Learn from Climate Scientists About Responding to Personal Attacks Over Covid-19
Why millions of kids aren't getting their routine vaccinations