Kazuma Okamoto of the Toronto Blue Jays matched a significant rookie record on Friday night, hitting his 22nd home run of the season. This achievement ties him with Shohei Ohtani for the most home runs by a Japanese-born rookie in Major League Baseball history. Okamoto’s three-run shot helped secure a 5-3 victory for the Blue Jays over the San Diego Padres.
The decisive home run came in the fifth inning against reliever Jhony Brito. Okamoto connected with a 95-m.p.h. sinker, sending the ball into the left-field seats. This pivotal hit broke a tie in the game, putting the Blue Jays ahead. Okamoto’s performance was a key factor in snapping the team’s three-game losing streak.
Okamoto’s 22nd home run occurred before the All-Star break, marking the most by a Blue Jays player since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Marcus Semien both hit 22 and 28 respectively in 2021. This also sets a franchise record for the most home runs by a Toronto rookie. His recent power surge includes hitting his first grand slam earlier in the week against San Francisco.
Okamoto’s Record-Tying Performance
The record Okamoto tied was set by Shohei Ohtani in 2018 when Ohtani was with the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani, now in his third season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, recently hit his 300th career home run, becoming the first Japanese-born player in the majors to reach that milestone. Okamoto acknowledged Ohtani’s status, stating through translator Yusuke Oshima that he aims to get closer to Ohtani’s level.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised Okamoto’s power and ability to adjust during games. Schneider noted that Okamoto’s continued impressive play and his ability to tie Ohtani’s rookie record place him in “elite territory.” Despite striking out in his first two at-bats of the game, Okamoto battled through a seven-pitch at-bat before hitting his record-tying homer.
The game saw the Blue Jays overcome an early deficit. San Diego’s Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run home run in the first inning, ending a streak of 128 plate appearances without a homer. Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber, making his fourth start of the season after returning from forearm fatigue on June 23, allowed two runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings. Mason Fluharty earned the win, improving his record to 4-0, while Louis Varland secured his 19th save of the season.
Game Details and Upcoming Matchup
The Blue Jays’ offence generated nine hits and three walks during the game. In the fifth inning, Myles Straw started with a bunt single, followed by a single from Ernie Clement. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then hit an RBI single, setting the stage for Okamoto’s three-run blast. Clement and Straw each contributed two hits to the Blue Jays’ effort.
Despite some early struggles, Bieber settled down after the first inning, allowing no further runs before exiting the game in the fourth. Chad Dallas, Jeff Hoffman, and Tyler Rogers each pitched a scoreless inning in relief. Varland faced some pressure in the ninth, giving up three consecutive singles before getting Bogaerts to ground out, securing the save.
Okamoto also had a busy day on defence. The Blue Jays’ victory handed the Padres their 11th loss in 14 games. Looking ahead, the Blue Jays were scheduled to start right-hander Trey Yesavage (4-4, 3.31 ERA) against Padres right-hander Walker Buehler (5-5, 5.07) on Saturday night.
The Blue Jays’ win was a significant moment for Okamoto, highlighting his impact as a rookie. His performance not only tied a historical record but also provided a much-needed victory for the team. The upcoming game against the Padres will feature a pitching matchup between Yesavage and Buehler.
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Source: tsn.ca
