“One hundred is a big number” – Angels’ Shohei Ohtani becomes third Japanese player to join 100-homer club in Majors

“One hundred is a big number” – Angels’ Shohei Ohtani becomes third Japanese player to join 100-homer club in Majors

Shohei Ohtani

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter and outfielder Shohei Ohtani reached yet another milestone on Saturday night. The Japanese Major League Baseball (MLB) star smacked a two-run homer – No. 100 of his stellar career — in a 9-1 Angels victory over the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum in the second game of a doubleheader.

The 27-year-old Ohtani achieved the Century mark with a two-run blast off A’s right-hander Adam Oller in the fifth inning to give his side an 8-1 lead. It came off a first-pitch sinker that Ohtani crushed to center field which left the bat at 110.1 mph and went a projected 418 feet, per Statcast.

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“One hundred is a big number and I’m proud of it, but it’s early in the season, so that’s what I’m focused on right now,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, as quoted by MLB.com. “I just want to keep it going. Early in my career, I went through a lot of injuries and surgeries, but I made it back strong and I’m planning on hitting more and trying to get better.”

“Ohtani does it every day…not surprising anymore”

Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani, the reigning American League MVP, is now the third Japanese player to reach 100 career homers in the Majors after the legendary Hideki Matsui (175) and Ichiro Suzuki (117). Notably, the Iwate native took 444 career games to reach the mark, marking the fastest to 100 homers by a Japanese player. 

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“He does it every day,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “It’s not surprising anymore. I don’t want to say, ‘Expecting it,’ but we’re expecting it. That’s just who he is right now. He’s gonna keep adding on to that. You’re going to hear more names, you’re gonna hear more milestones.”

He added: “MC Hammer has a great legendary tradition around here, and, of course, Shohei had a bemused look and had no idea what was going on. But then once we wrapped it up, they put the music on and now he knows who MC Hammer is.”

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