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Shohei Ohtani’s Near Splash Hit
Shohei Ohtani’s recent 446-foot home run for the Dodgers in a 10-2 victory against the Giants was a breathtaking display of power. His shot landed above the brick facade in right-center at Oracle Park, marking the longest home run at the venue in nearly two years. The last comparable feat was achieved by Christian Walker who connected for a 461-foot drive against Alex Cobb on August 15, 2022.
Breathtaking Long Shot
Manager Dave Roberts, impressed by Ohtani’s achievement, compared the hit to those of home run king Barry Bonds. Reflecting on the remarkable feat, Roberts stated, “You don’t see many guys hitting the ball (to) that part of the ballpark that far. Fortunately I played with one here. That was pretty impressive. … That’s Barry territory.”
Ohtani, who admitted to a recent struggle with proper rest tied to a former interpreter’s gambling scandal this spring, expressed relief at his ability to sleep better again. With a consistent routine and improved sleep quality, Ohtani noted the positive impact on his performance. His current interpreter, Will Ireton, quoted Ohtani as saying, “Initially I really didn’t have much sleep, obviously with the things that were happening, but now I’ve been able to really have a pretty consistent routine, been able to sleep well, so I think those are leading to good results.”
Legal Proceedings
Earlier in the day, Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, pleaded not guilty to bank and tax fraud as part of a plea deal negotiation with federal prosecutors in a sports betting case. Allegations claim that Mizuhara embezzled nearly $17 million from Ohtani in a yearslong scheme to cover sports gambling debts.
Ohtani’s 12th home run leading off the fourth inning boasted an impressive exit velocity of 113.4 mph, making it the hardest-hit ball at Oracle Park this year and the seventh-hardest since the advent of the Statcast era in 2015. Pitcher Gavin Stone, amazed by Ohtani’s power, expressed disbelief, stating, “I thought it went in the water at first. That was sick.”
Future Endeavors
Ohtani, a 29-year-old Japanese star, expressed disappointment at not sending his home run into San Francisco’s McCovey Cove. Despite the missed opportunity, Ohtani remains optimistic as he continues to push his limits. With a lucrative $700 million, 10-year contract, Ohtani has ample time ahead to chase his dreams and leave a lasting mark on the baseball world.
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