Kazuma Okamoto ties Shohei Ohtani's record for homers by Japanese-born rookie
MLB.com • • sports
Key Points:
- Blue Jays rookie Okamoto tied Shohei Ohtani's rookie home run record with 22 homers before the All-Star break, marking a significant achievement amid an otherwise underwhelming season for Toronto.
- Okamoto leads the team in RBIs with 62, more than double the next-best total, and has outperformed key players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer.
- Despite adjusting to a new league and unfamiliar pitchers, Okamoto has hit consistently well from the start of the season, showing increasing comfort and adaptability at the plate.
- Manager John Schneider praised Okamoto’s all-around contributions, highlighting his elite performance at third base and his importance to the team's competitiveness.
- At 30 years old, Okamoto is setting a high standard for Japanese rookies in MLB, with competition from White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami, who has 20 home runs after returning from injury.
