Shohei Ohtani, the $700 million man, purchased his manager Dave Roberts a new car or truck just before Saturday’s game, which observed the two-way star crack Roberts’s history for the most vocation household runs by a Japanese-born Dodgers participant.
Only, it was not a auto in the perception that Roberts imagined, as Ohtani had really gifted the Dodgers skipper a toy Porsche in an amusing prank before the game towards the Atlanta Braves, which resulted in an 11—2 victory for Los Angeles.
Soon after the video game, Roberts manufactured an appearance at Ohtani’s press convention, demonstrating off the mini Porsche to reporters as he shared a giggle with the Dodgers star.
Ohtani was then asked about the toy Porsche.
“He explained he wished a car and I am glad that he was happy he bought a car,” Ohtani mentioned.
The Dodgers star, right after breaking Hideki Matsui’s record for the most job dwelling runs by a Japanese-born main leaguer in April, joked with Roberts, who was born in Naha, Okinawa, Japan, that he was coming for his history next.
Genuine to his term, Ohtani eclipsed Roberts’s mark — 7 dwelling runs in 302 games with Los Angeles from 2002 to ’04 — with a solo residence operate in the bottom of the third inning.
The homer was part of an additional productive working day for Ohtani, who went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two operates scored — and just one flawlessly executed prank.
Roberts, asked about the toy car just before the recreation, experienced this to say.
“He did buy me a car,” Roberts stated. “I guess I didn’t specify what kind of vehicle. So I are unable to say he never ever gave me nearly anything.”
Ohtani ranks second in MLB in OPS by 34 video games played in 2024.