Shohei Ohtani breaks Hideki Matsui’s record, both DH’s pay respects
![Shohei Ohtani, LA Angels. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fhalohangout-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2021-2F07-2F16380525-850x560-130975629311d86d046caa3ff70628f2.jpg)
Current DH of the LA Angels, Shohei Ohtani, hit his league-leading 32nd home run on Wednesday.
That home run broke the record of most home runs in an MLB season by a Japanese-born player, which was held by the former DH of the LA Angels, Hideki Matsui.
Yes, he broke the record in just his 81st game of the season. He still has half a season left to keep clubbing home runs.
Hideki Matsui was quick to recognize what LA Angels’ superstar slugger, Shohei Ohtani, has accomplished.
Shohei Ohtani has a huge fan in former LA Angels‘ designated hitter, Hideki Matsui. Here’s what Matsui had to say about Ohtani breaking his record.
Shohei Ohtani broke Hideki Matsui’s record for homers in a season by a Japanese-born player with 32 and Matsui released a statement: pic.twitter.com/Doe5O9oEfe
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 7, 2021
Matsui is a class act. He’s rooting for the Angels, he’s rooting for Ohtani, and he’s rooting for the best thing that’s happened to baseball this year.
Ohtani had quite a bit to say about his admiration for Matsui as well.
"It's a huge honor to pass what he's done."
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) July 7, 2021
Ohtani on passing Matsui's home run record for Japanese-born players#WeBelieve I @Angels pic.twitter.com/7Qhr5Owzrf
It certainly is quite an honor. Matsui was quite the slugger himself, making the All-Star team twice, and winning a World Series MVP for his efforts in the New York Yankees World Series Championship in 2009. He was very impressive offensively, and could scrap in the outfield too.
He set the record Ohtani just broke in 2004 with his 31 home runs. He used to tee off every pitcher he faced. Check out how he did prime Pedro in that ’04 season:
With his 32nd homer yesterday, Shohei Ohtani passed Hideki Matsui for the most home runs by a Japanese-born player in a season.
— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) July 8, 2021
Here is one of Matsui's dingers from the 2004 season in which he hit 31. pic.twitter.com/U38K6zFxYK
The craziest part about this was what happened before the homer in Ohtani’s at-bat.
Shohei Ohtani just fouled balls off his foot twice. Limped around a little.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) July 7, 2021
Then hit a HR (32).
The #Angels are up 3-2 in the 5th.
Ohtani got beat up in the AB, and still found a way to go yard. That’s the type of player he is. The current AL MVP is having the greatest season in MLB history.
Next. Ohtani's heroic season is even crazier than you thought
The best part about seasons like these are the moments like this that come along the way.