Current:Home > MyShohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record -InvestTomorrow
Shohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record
View
Date:2025-04-28 01:55:28
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! (74746)
Related
- Drones warned New York City residents about storm flooding. The Spanish translation was no bueno
- Ursula K. Le Guin’s home will become a writers residency
- Heat up Your Kitchen With Sur la Table’s Warehouse Sale: Shop Le Creuset, Staub, & All-Clad up to 55% Off
- Kim Porter's Dad Addresses Despicable Video of Diddy Assaulting His Ex Cassie
- Clay Aiken's son Parker, 15, makes his TV debut, looks like his father's twin
- District attorney who prosecuted Barry Morphew faces disciplinary hearing
- Bypassing Caitlin Clark for Olympics was right for Team USA. And for Clark, too.
- Microsoft highlights slate of games during annual Xbox Games Showcase 2024
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Tuition is rising for students at University of Alabama’s 3 campuses
Ranking
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Garry Conille, Haiti's new prime minister, hospitalized
- Mexican authorities clear one of Mexico City’s largest downtown migrant tent encampments
- Isabella Strahan Finishes Chemotherapy for Brain Cancer: See Her Celebrate
- Family of explorer who died in the Titan sub implosion seeks $50M-plus in wrongful death lawsuit
- FDA warns microdose chocolate may lead to seizures
- Dining out less but wearing more jewelry: How inflation is changing the way shoppers spend
- Bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission unanimously chooses Democrat as chair for 2 years
Recommendation
Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
Buc-ee's opens doors to largest store in Texas: See photos of Luling outlet
4-legged lifesavers: Service dogs are working wonders for veterans with PTSD, study shows
Julia Louis-Dreyfus calls PC comedy complaints a 'red flag' after Jerry Seinfeld comments
Illinois Gov. Pritzker calls for sheriff to resign after Sonya Massey shooting
DePaul University dismisses biology professor after assignment tied to Israel-Hamas war
Kia, Honda, Toyota, Ford among 687,000 vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here
Plane crash in southeastern Michigan kills 1, sends another to hopsital