Shohei Ohtani continued his magical season for the Angels on Wednesday afternoon, blasting his 32nd home run of the season, already the most in a season by a Japanese-born player in MLB history.
The player whose record he surpassed? Former Yankee great and World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, who smacked 31 home runs in 2004, his second and final All-Star season with the Yankees. Matsui used all 162 games to reach that mark, while Ohtani has passed that mark by early July.
Matsui spoke on the historic achievement for Ohtani, releasing a statement via the Angels:
“Thirty two home runs in a season is just a passing point for a hitter like Shohei,” Matsui said. “I was once considered a long-ball hitter in the majors, but I believe that he is truly a long-ball hitter. Furthermore, he is an amazing hitter. He exceeds what is considered conventional for a major league player and there is no one else like him.”
Matsui played one season with the Angels in 2010, after winning the 2009 World Series MVP with the Yanks, but fellow Japanese star Ohtani’s power is on another level, leading the league in home runs with more than 75 games still to go, while also pitching at an All-Star level.
“I hope he continues his success this season as he carries the hopes and dreams of many fans and young children,” Matsui said. “As a baseball fan myself, I can’t wait to see what he is able to do next.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch
