SAN FRANCISCO — Shohei Ohtani really wanted to go for a swim in San Francisco’s McCovey Cove, and he came so close on Tuesday night.
Ohtani’s 446-foot shot for the Dodgers during a 10-2 win against the Giants landed above the brick facade in right-center for the longest home run at Oracle Park in nearly two years – since Christian Walker hit one 461-foot shot against Alex Cobb on August 15, 2022.
“You don’t see many guys hitting the ball in that part of the stadium that far. Luckily I played with one here,” manager Dave Roberts said of home run king Barry Bonds. “That was quite impressive… That’s Barry’s territory.”
Ohtani later acknowledged that he is finally sleeping better again. He has struggled to get adequate rest amid his former player’s gambling scandal this spring – and certainly looks refreshed at the moment.
“Initially I didn’t really sleep much, obviously with things that were going on, but now I’ve managed to have a pretty consistent routine, I’ve managed to sleep well, so I think that’s leading to good results,” Ohtani said through Will Ireton, his new interpreter. .
When asked how he was able to sleep better, Ohtani added, “I think really as the incidents progressed and I was basically doing what I could to show that I’m OK, and as the incidents progressed and the investigation progressed. and I was starting to not engage anymore, that’s when I was able to really focus on my sleep and be able to sleep better.
Earlier in the day, former performer Ippei Mizuhara pleaded not guilty to bank and tax fraud, a formality ahead of a plea deal he negotiated with federal prosecutors in a wide-ranging sports betting case. Prosecutors say he stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani to pay off sports gambling debts during a years-long scheme.
Ohtani’s 12th home run in the fourth inning had an exit velocity of 113.4 mph, the hardest-hit ball at Oracle this year and the seventh-hardest since the start of the Statcast era in 2015.
“At first I thought I went into the water,” said Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone. “That he was sick.”
The 29-year-old Ohtani, who had three hits and two RBIs, saw many of Bonds’ home runs land in the water beyond the right field wall, and the Japanese star could have reached the cove if he had hauled in the ball.
“I thought I hit one today,” he said, “but I was disappointed I didn’t.”
Having signed a 10-year, $700 million contract, he will have another decade to keep trying.
___
APMLB:
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
