Shohei Ohtani Cracked Perfect Joke After Breaking Hideki Matsui's HR Record

Tim Capurso | Apr 22, 2024

Apr 1, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Seven.

That's the number of home runs Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, who surpassed former New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui's record for the most career home runs hit by a Japanese-born player in MLB history, is aiming for now.

What's the significance of seven home runs, you ask? It's the number of dingers that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who was born in Japan, hit during his three seasons as a player with Los Angeles.

Speaking through an interpreter after the Dodgers' win, a smiling Ohtani quipped that he wants to "break my manager's record."

Shohei Ohtani wants to match what Hideki Matsui does in the postseason but not before surpassing Dave Roberts Dodgers homerun record (7) 😂
©️SportsNetLA pic.twitter.com/6FjDiCRpZO

— James¹⁷¹⁸🎌 (@ShotimeLAD) April 21, 2024

Roberts, when asked about Ohtani's historic home run, played along with the joke.

"He said he's coming after me next," Roberts said, as the room full of reporters chortled.

Perhaps that explains this amusing interaction between Ohtani and Roberts in the Dodgers dugout immediately after the record-setting home run.

Lmaooo what did Ohtani say to Roberts 😝😂

pic.twitter.com/NS5osGwyvH

— shobae 大谷翔平 ¹⁷ Ohtani Shohei ¹⁷ 🦋 (@shoheisaveus) April 21, 2024

Ohtani already has five home runs and ranks third in MLB in slugging percentage. After toppling Matsui's record, it likely won't take him long to speed past Roberts, who was known for his base-stealing prowess during his career.

Ohtani will continue the Roberts chase when the Dodgers take on the Washington Nationals in a three-game series beginning on Tuesday.