Current:Home > FinanceShohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record -Capital Dream Guides
Shohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record
View
Date:2025-04-15 01:35:43
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! (1668)
Related
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- With US vehicle prices averaging near $50K, General Motors sees 2nd-quarter profits rise 15%
- Hiker dies at Utah state park after high temperatures, running out of water
- Nordstrom Beauty Director Autumne West Shares Deals That Will Sell Out, Must-Haves & Trend Predictions
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- 'Bachelorette' star's ex is telling all on TikTok: What happens when your ex is everywhere
- Dubai Princess Shares Photo With 2-Month-Old Daughter After Shocking Divorce
- Olympic swimmers will be diving into the (dirty) Seine. Would you do it?
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- The Simpsons writer comments on Kamala Harris predictions: I'm proud
Ranking
- Trump's 'stop
- Antisemitism runs rampant in Philadelphia schools, Jewish group alleges in civil rights complaint
- Missing Arizona woman and her alleged stalker found dead in car: 'He scared her'
- Dan Aykroyd revisits the Blues Brothers’ remarkable legacy in new Audible Original
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Blake Lively and Gigi Hadid Shut Down the Deadpool Red Carpet in Matching BFF Outfits
- Beyoncé's mom, Tina Knowles, endorses VP Kamala Harris for president
- Eminem brings Taylor Swift’s historic reign at No. 1 to an end, Stevie Wonder’s record stays intact
Recommendation
Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
Why Hailey Bieber Chose to Keep Her Pregnancy Private for First 6 Months
After key Baptist leader applauds Biden’s withdrawal, agency retracts announcement of his firing
Calls for Maya Rudolph to reprise her Kamala Harris interpretation on SNL grow on social media
Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
'Bachelorette' star's ex is telling all on TikTok: What happens when your ex is everywhere
Blake Lively and Gigi Hadid Are Simply the Perfect Match With Deadpool & Wolverine After-Party Looks
Plane crash kills two near EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2024 on first day