Current:Home > MarketsShohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record -MoneySpot
Shohei Ohtani gifts manager Dave Roberts toy Porsche before breaking his home run record
View
Date:2025-04-17 23:23:53
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! (4)
Related
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Why Jennifer Lopez Says She and Ben Affleck “Have PTSD” From Their Relationship in the Early Aughts
- Wells Fargo workers at New Mexico branch vote to unionize, a first in modern era for a major bank
- 'Anyone But You': Glen Powell calls Sydney Sweeney the 'Miss Congeniality of Australia'
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Cuisinart Flash Deal, Save $100 on a Pizza Oven That’s Compact and Easy To Use
- 'Anyone But You': Glen Powell calls Sydney Sweeney the 'Miss Congeniality of Australia'
- Florida State to discuss future of athletics, affiliation with ACC at board meeting, AP source says
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- You’ll Be Charmed by Olivia Flowers’ Holiday Gift Guide Picks, Which Include a $6 Must-Have
Ranking
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- This golden retriever is nursing 3 African painted dog pups at a zoo because their own mother wouldn't care for them
- Paul Giamatti set to receive Icon Award for 'The Holdovers' role at Palm Springs film festival
- Tua Tagovailoa, Mike McDaniel sound off on media narratives before Dolphins host Cowboys
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- GM buys out nearly half of its Buick dealers across the country, who opt to not sell EVs
- This golden retriever is nursing 3 African painted dog pups at a zoo because their own mother wouldn't care for them
- WHO declares new JN.1 COVID strain a variant of interest. Here's what that means.
Recommendation
Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
Hungary’s Orbán says he agreed to a future meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
When does Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 end and Season 2 begin?
In just one month, Postal Service to raise price of Forever first-class stamps to 68 cents
Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
Ecuador investigates the kidnapping of a British businessman and former honorary consul
Criminal probe of police actions during Uvalde school shooting will continue into 2024, prosecutor says
Czech police say people have been killed in a shooting in downtown Prague