Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto ties Shohei Ohtani’s Japanese MLB rookie record originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Kazuma Okamoto has tied Shohei Ohtani.
The Toronto Blue Jays‘ rookie from Japan has now matched Ohtani’s rookie season home run total.
Ohtani, then with the Angels, hit 22 homers in his first season in MLB. It was the record for a first-year player from Japan.
Okamoto slugged his 22nd homer of the season on Friday night in San Diego against the Padres.
Kazuma Okamoto has tied Shohei Ohtani for the most home runs (22) by a Japanese-born rookie in Major League history 👏 https://t.co/wH7dJyzD57pic.twitter.com/1iejc6e5Ot
— MLB (@MLB) July 11, 2026
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Okamoto hit this homer on July 10, so yeah, there’s a lot of time to break the record.
Ironically, Munetaka Murakami seemed like he would break this first, but the Chicago White Sox slugger got injured and only just returned. He could still try to chase Okamoto down.
Of the two new imports this season, Okamoto was the one considered a more balanced hitter — but when he has gotten to a hot streak in MLB, the power shows up in a big way.
It’s been a welcome development in a Blue Jays lineup that otherwise this season has been quite devoid of power.
Toronto won’t reach its ceiling for the year if no one else picks up the slugging, but at least the Blue Jays know they got it right when they gave Okamoto a four-year contract for $60 million ($15 million per year).
While it’s not the craziest record ever, catching up with Ohtani in anything is a clear accomplishment.
