Kazuma Okamoto just etched his name in MLB history, crushing his 23rd home run of the season Friday against the Boston Red Sox and blowing past Shohei Ohtani’s MLB record for long balls by a Japanese rookie. This dude didn’t just break it; he owned it, launching a first-pitch sinker from Boston reliever Greg Weissert an estimated 408 feet into the center field stands. You love to see a player make that kind of impact right out of the gate.
The Blue Jays put some serious coin down on Okamoto last offseason, signing him to a four-year, $60 million deal after he spent a decade tearing it up for the Yomiuri Giants. And he’s already paying dividends. Think about it: Ohtani, one of the biggest names in baseball, set his mark of 22 homers in 367 plate appearances at 23 years old. Okamoto, now 30, hit his 23rd in 411 PAs. It’s a different path, for sure, but the result is undeniable. He’s been one of their more productive bats this season, stepping up big for a Blue Jays squad that’s had a “profoundly disappointing season” as the reigning AL champions. He might not be an All-Star with a slash line of .227/.309/.452 through 101 games, but that power is real, and it’s something to build on.
But here’s the kicker, the real drama: this record isn’t exactly in the bank for Okamoto. Remember Munetaka Murakami? The other monster Japanese power bat who hit MLB this season? He was actually on pace to break Ohtani’s record first before a hamstring strain sidelined him in May. Now he’s back on the field, sitting at 20 homers himself. Based on how they’re both hitting, Murakami has a really good shot to finish with more homers than Okamoto this season and snatch that record right back.
We’ve got two wild months left in the season, and it’s going to be a slugfest to watch. Can Okamoto hold off Murakami? Or will we see another record fall before the year is out? It’s a showdown, folks, and every swing is going to matter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply