Current:Home > ScamsShohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record -Wealth Legacy Solutions
Shohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record
View
Date:2025-04-12 08:35:57
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! (89164)
Related
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Alabama is close to hiring Kalen DeBoer from Washington to replace Nick Saban, AP source says
- Demi Moore Shares Favorite Part of Being Grandma to Rumer Willis' Daughter Louetta
- Police in Puerto Rico capture a rhesus macaque monkey chased by a crowd at a public housing complex
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Federal jury finds Puerto Rico ex-legislator Charbonier guilty on corruption charges
- Producers Guild nominations boost Oscar contenders: 'Barbie,' 'Oppenheimer' and more
- Rapper G Herbo sentenced to 3 years probation in credit card fraud scheme
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- Alaska ombudsman says Adult Protective Services’ negligent handling of vulnerable adult led to death
Ranking
- Average rate on 30
- North Carolina Gov. Cooper gets temporary legal win in fight with legislature over board’s makeup
- Donald Trump ordered to pay The New York Times and its reporters nearly $400,000 in legal fees
- Detroit officer, 2 suspects shot after police responding to shooting entered a home, official says
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Fox News stops running MyPillow commercials in a payment dispute with election denier Mike Lindell
- Missing Mom Jennifer Dulos Declared Dead Nearly 5 Years After Disappearance
- Navy officer who’d been jailed in Japan over deadly crash now released from US custody, family says
Recommendation
What to watch: O Jolie night
Oregon Supreme Court keeps Trump on primary ballot
Former Connecticut mayoral candidate pleads guilty to Jan. 6 Capitol breach charge
What’s at stake in Taiwan’s elections? China says it could be a choice between peace and war
Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
Sushi restaurants are thriving in Ukraine, bringing jobs and a 'slice of normal life'
Alaska ombudsman says Adult Protective Services’ negligent handling of vulnerable adult led to death
House Republicans shy away from Trump and Rep. Elise Stefanik's use of term Jan. 6 hostages