Current:Home > MarketsShohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record -FutureFinance
Shohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record
Charles H. Sloan View
Date:2025-04-08 09:04:47
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! (47697)
Related
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- 2 more state troopers who were part of the Karen Read case are under investigation, police say
- Bachelor Nation's Jed Wyatt Marries Ellen Decker in Tennessee Wedding Ceremony
- Bachelor Nation's Jed Wyatt Marries Ellen Decker in Tennessee Wedding Ceremony
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- A'ja Wilson and the WNBA could be powerful allies for Kamala Harris
- When do new episodes of 'Too Hot To Handle' come out? Season 6 release schedule, times, cast
- Wind power can be a major source of tax revenue, but officials struggle to get communities on board
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Amid tensions with China, some US states are purging Chinese companies from their investments
Ranking
- Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
- Hugh Jackman claws his way back to superhero glory in 'Deadpool & Wolverine': Review
- Oilers name Stan Bowman GM. He was recently reinstated after Blackhawks scandal.
- Dead couple washes ashore in life raft, prompting Canada police investigation
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Taylor Swift explains how she created 'Folklore' on album's fourth anniversary
- Prince Harry Reveals Central Piece of Rift With Royal Family
- Watchdog finds no improper influence in sentencing recommendation for Trump ally Roger Stone
Recommendation
Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
Amid tensions with China, some US states are purging Chinese companies from their investments
Did 'Veep' predict Kamala Harris' presidential run? HBO series sees viewership surge
NYPD: Possibly real pipe bomb found in car after a family dispute between the men inside
Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
10 to watch: Lee Kiefer made US fencing history. Now she chases repeat Olympic gold
SSW Management Institute: A Benefactor for Society
Schools across Maine confront unique challenges in ridding their water of ‘forever chemicals’