Shohei Ohtani Hits 19th Homer of Season, Nears 300 MLB Career Home Runs

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hit his 19th home run of the season today in a home game against the Colorado Rockies. This was his first home run since turning 32 and brings him within one blast of 300 career MLB home runs.

According to Japan's TBS television, while Ohtani didn't hit a home run on his birthday, July 5th, he did get a hit that day, marking his first RBI hit on his birthday since 2019.

Ohtani, batting first as the designated hitter today, had a significant advantage against Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland in their career matchups: 7 hits in 13 at-bats for a .583 batting average, with 2 home runs.

In his first at-bat of the game, Ohtani swung aggressively but hit a fly ball to center field for an out. In his second at-bat in the bottom of the third inning, he swung at the first pitch and hit a two-run home run. This was Ohtani's first home run at home since June 21st and his first in six games.

Ohtani hit a career-high 55 home runs last season, reaching his 19th homer in his 54th game. This season, he reached the same milestone in his 92nd game.

Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies currently leads the National League with 30 home runs. Ohtani is still 11 home runs behind Schwarber, but with three more home runs, he will reach 350 career home runs in both Japanese and American professional baseball.

Ohtani's home run today helped the Dodgers take a 2-1 lead over the Rockies by the end of the bottom of the third inning. The Dodgers then scored 4 more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Rockies fought back, tying the game 7-7 by the end of the 9th inning, forcing extra innings.

In the bottom of the 11th inning, Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing hit a walk-off single with runners on second and third, giving the Dodgers an 8-7 victory. (Compiled by Yang Wei-jen) 0707