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Okamoto Ties Ohtani Rookie HR Record, Padres Stumble

7/11/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Kazuma Okamoto’s three-run homer tied Shohei Ohtani’s record for most home runs by a Japanese rookie in MLB.
The Padres beat the Diamondbacks 10-4 then lost 3-1 the next day, indicating offensive inconsistency.
Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk logged his extra-base hit since early May with a double that drove in the first run.
Shane Bieber gave up his eighth home run in three starts, showing control with fewer pitches.

History

Historical Context

In 1995 Hideo Nomo became the first Japanese-born pitcher to join the Los Angeles Dodgers permanently, winning NL Rookie of the Year and leading the league in strikeouts. His breakthrough opened MLB doors for stars such as Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui, prompting teams to expand Asian scouting that now yields regular Japanese impact players.

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Story summary

Kazuma Okamoto’s three-run homer tied Shohei Ohtani’s record for most home runs by a Japanese rookie in MLB.
The Padres beat the Diamondbacks 10-4 then lost 3-1 the next day, indicating offensive inconsistency.
Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk logged his extra-base hit since early May with a double that drove in the first run.
Shane Bieber gave up his eighth home run in three starts, showing control with fewer pitches.

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