Shohei Ohtani wasted no time making Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies count. His leadoff blast off Michael Lorenzen was more than just a hot start for the Dodgers - it was the 300th home run of his big league career.
That swing also made Ohtani the only Japanese-born player in MLB history with at least 300 home runs, and he’s done it without even reaching 200 until now. It was his 25th leadoff homer as a Dodger, another reminder of how quickly he can flip a game before it really settles in.
Manager Dave Roberts didn’t hide his admiration after the milestone.
“It was quite the homer,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It was squared up, got out in a hurry, and 300, he got there pretty quickly for us. I just marvel at him every day…”
Roberts said the Dodgers are already looking beyond 300, and even beyond the 500-home-run target Ohtani has in mind.
“We’re always talking about the 500 club.” ”I mean, he just had a birthday,” Roberts said.
“Still young, still strong. So I definitely think 500 is in his future.”
Ohtani’s 300th homer also made him the first Dodger this season to reach 20 home runs, and he’s now hit at least that many in six straight seasons. On the Home Run Derby front, though, Roberts doesn’t expect to see him in the field this year. Only Junior Caminero and Ben Rice have been announced so far, and Ohtani’s name won’t be added, according to Roberts.
“When you’re Shohei, he understands the responsibility he has,” Roberts said. “So I do think that there’s a middle for what’s best for him [during the All-Star Game], with what potentially could be downside, but also what’s best for the game.
So don’t see him in the Home Run Derby. Don’t see him pitching.
But I do see him taking an at-bat or two, yes.”
The Dodgers still came up short Tuesday, with the bullpen unable to back up another strong outing from Justin Wrobleski. The left-hander worked seven innings, struck out nine, and gave up just one run against Colorado.
Afterward, Wrobleski gave Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA his own take on what’s been a strong first half.
“I think I’ve thrown the ball pretty well. I think there’s always stuff you can nitpick and try to improve on, but for the most part, in the categories that I try to be good at, I’ve done a pretty good job. It’s just a matter of continuing to hammer those and to do what I need to do to be myself and hammer my strengths.”
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