Dodgers Star Shohei Ohtani Hits Longest Home Run at Oracle Park in Nearly Two Years
17:00 JST, May 15, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani really wanted a splash hit into San Francisco’s McCovey Cove, and he came oh so close Tuesday night.
Ohtani’s 446-foot drive for the Dodgers during a 10-2 win against the Giants landed above the brick facade in right-center for the longest home run at Oracle Park in nearly two years — since Christian Walker connected for a 461-foot drive against Alex Cobb on Aug. 15, 2022.
“You don’t see many guys hitting the ball (to) that part of the ballpark that far. Fortunately I played with one here,” manager Dave Roberts said of home run king Barry Bonds. “That was pretty impressive. … That’s Barry territory.”
Ohtani acknowledged afterward that he is finally sleeping better again. He had struggled to get proper rest amid his former interpreter’s gambling scandal this spring — and he certainly appears refreshed at the moment.
“Initially I really didn’t have much sleep obviously with the things that were happening but now I’ve been able to really have a pretty consistent routine, been able to sleep well, so I think those are leading to good results,” Ohtani said through Will Ireton, his new interpreter.
When asked how he has been able to get better sleep, Ohtani added: “I think really as the incidents progressed and I was basically doing what I can to show that I’m fine, and as the incidents were progressing and the investigation was going on and I was starting to not be involved any more, that’s when I was able to really focus on my sleep and being able to sleep better.”
Earlier in the day, ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara pleaded not guilty to bank and tax fraud, a formality ahead of a plea deal he has negotiated with federal prosecutors in a wide-ranging sports betting case. Prosecutors say he stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani to pay off sports gambling debts during a yearslong scheme.
Ohtani’s 12th homer leading off the fourth inning had an exit velocity of 113.4 mph, the hardest-hit ball at Oracle this year and the seventh-hardest ever since the beginning of the Statcast era in 2015.
“I thought it went in the water at first,” Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone said. “That was sick.”
The 29-year-old Ohtani, who had three hits and two RBIs, has watched plenty of Bonds’ homers land in the water beyond the right-field wall, and the Japanese star might have reached the cove had he pulled the ball.
“I thought I hit one today,” he said, “but I was disappointed it didn’t go over.”
Signed to a $700 million, 10-year contract, he will have another decade to keep trying.
"Sports" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
54-59: Shohei Ohtani Likely to Nab Home Run, RBI Titles; Narrowly Loses Batting Crown to Arraez
-
Yu Darvish Limits the Dodgers’ Powerful Offense to One Run and Three Hits over Seven Innings; Interrupt Padres’ 10-2 Win That Evens NLDS
-
Shohei Ohtani and the MLB Playoffs, a Pairing the World Will Experience for the 1st Time
-
China Turns to Japanese Coaches to Develop Next Generation of Soccer Players
-
Sekiwake Onosato Clinches Autumn Grand Sumo Title with Day to Spare
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Harris Widens Lead over Trump to 47%-40%, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds
- Japan-S. Korea Exchange Festival Held in Seoul
- Gaza Polio Vaccination Rate Likely Exceeds 90%; UNRWA Health Director Praises ‘Miraculous’ Rollout
- Typhoon Cimaron Forms South of Japan; Expected to Move Closer to Kyushu, Shikoku in Few Days
- Historic Change as Britain Closes Last Coal-Fired Power Plant; Transition to Clean Energy Vital for Economy, Human Health