Kazuma Okamoto ties Shohei Ohtani's rookie home run record
ESPN MLB • 2 min read • Latest: Jul 11, 2026, 3:22 AM
Last updated Jul 11, 2026
Kazuma Okamoto of the Toronto Blue Jays tied Shohei Ohtani's Japanese MLB rookie record by hitting his 22nd home run on July 10 against the San Diego Padres. Ohtani set the record during his rookie season with the Los Angeles Angels. Okamoto's achievement comes mid-season, allowing him ample time to surpass Ohtani's mark. His power hitting has been a bright spot in a Blue Jays lineup struggling with slugging this year.
- •Okamoto slugged his 22nd homer on July 10.
- •He matches Ohtani's record for Japanese rookies in MLB.
- •Toronto signed Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million contract.
- •The Blue Jays seek more power in their batting lineup.
- •Munetaka Murakami could still chase down Okamoto.
- 5:36 AMESPN MLB — Jays' Okamoto ties Ohtani's mark with 22nd HR
- 4:38 AMYahoo Sports — Blue Jays' Okamoto hits 22nd homer to tie Ohtani's rookie mark in 5-3 win over Padres
- 4:13 AMYahoo Sports — Blue Jays' Okamoto hits 22nd homer to tie Ohtani's mark by a Japanese-born rookie
- 3:22 AMYahoo Sports — Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto ties Shohei Ohtani's Japanese MLB rookie record
"Kazuma Okamoto hit his 22nd home run to tie Shohei Ohtani for the most by a Japanese-born rookie in a season in the majors to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night. Okamoto drove a tiebreaking, three-run shot into the left-field seats on a 95-mph sinker from reliever Jhony Brito with one out in the fifth. Ohtani was with the Los Angeles Angels when he hit 22 in 2018.
"Toronto's Kazuma Okamoto hit his 22nd home run Friday night to tie Shohei Ohtani for the most by a Japanese-born rookie in a single season in the majors. Okamoto homered into the seats in left on a 95-mph sinker from reliever Jhony Brito with one out in the fifth, a three-run shot that gave the Blue Jays a 5-2 lead. Ohtani was with the Los Angeles Angels when he hit 22 in 2018.
"Toronto's Kazuma Okamoto hit his 22nd home run Friday night to tie Shohei Ohtani for the most by a Japanese-born rookie in a season in the majors.
Sources
External links- ESPN MLBJul 11, 2026, 5:36 AMJays' Okamoto ties Ohtani's mark with 22nd HR
Toronto's Kazuma Okamoto hit his 22nd home run Friday night to tie Shohei Ohtani for the most by a Japanese-born rookie in a season in the majors.
- Yahoo SportsJul 11, 2026, 4:38 AMBlue Jays' Okamoto hits 22nd homer to tie Ohtani's rookie mark in 5-3 win over Padres
Kazuma Okamoto hit his 22nd home run to tie Shohei Ohtani for the most by a Japanese-born rookie in a season in the majors to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night. Okamoto drove a tiebreaking, three-run shot into the left-field seats on a 95-mph sinker from reliever Jhony Brito with one out in the fifth. Ohtani was with the Los Angeles Angels when he hit 22 in 2018.
- Yahoo SportsJul 11, 2026, 4:13 AMBlue Jays' Okamoto hits 22nd homer to tie Ohtani's mark by a Japanese-born rookie
Toronto's Kazuma Okamoto hit his 22nd home run Friday night to tie Shohei Ohtani for the most by a Japanese-born rookie in a single season in the majors. Okamoto homered into the seats in left on a 95-mph sinker from reliever Jhony Brito with one out in the fifth, a three-run shot that gave the Blue Jays a 5-2 lead. Ohtani was with the Los Angeles Angels when he hit 22 in 2018.
- Yahoo SportsJul 11, 2026, 3:22 AMBlue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto ties Shohei Ohtani's Japanese MLB rookie record
Okamoto has a lot of time to break this record, too.
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