Dave Roberts recently joked that when Shohei Ohtani breaks his Dodgers’ record for most home runs by a Japanese-born player, Ohtani should gift Roberts a Porsche.
Ohtani fulfilled the request but in a playful way. Before Friday’s game against the Atlanta Braves, Ohtani surprised Roberts by presenting him with a purple toy model Porsche in his office.
During Saturday’s 11-2 victory, Ohtani hit his eighth home run, surpassing Roberts’ mark with a solo shot to right-center in the third inning. “He said he wanted a car, and I’m glad he was happy that he got a car,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. Roberts joined Ohtani’s postgame interview to proudly display the gift and congratulate Ohtani for surpassing the record.
“This is my car,” Roberts said, showing it to reporters. “The difference is Joe’s car (pitcher Joe Kelly) doesn’t fit in my office. This car fits on my desk. So thank you, Shohei.”
Ohtani also gifted a Porsche to Ashley Kelly, the wife of Joe Kelly, for Joe giving up No. 17 when Ohtani joined the Dodgers last December. Kelly’s wife promised Ohtani the number and gear associated with it during his free agency decision, which he appreciated.
Roberts, born in Naha, Okinawa, Japan, to a Japanese mother and American father, hit seven home runs for the Dodgers from 2002-04.
“I’ve received different gifts from players but this is right at the top, for sure,” Roberts said. More than anything though, the gift shows off Ohtani’s sense of humor along with how much fun he is having in his first season with the Dodgers after signing a 10 year, $700 million contract.
“I like to make people laugh and I’m hoping to do more of these,” Ohtani said. Ohtani is sixth in the majors with a .345 batting average. That is also his best average through 34 games in his seven years in the big leagues. His best average at this point with the Los Angeles Angels was .319 during his rookie season in 2018.
The Dodgers have won 10 of 12. During that stretch, Ohtani has gone 15 of 47 with four home runs and 11 RBIs. That includes three hits and two RBIs in Saturday’s game.
“I think with Shohei it just speaks to how comfortable he feels here with the Dodgers. How excited he is to play winning baseball,” Roberts said. “I think that the way he’s been received, the way he’s melded with our ballclub and how much the fans have embraced him, he feels it.
I do believe that it translates into performance. I think he’s having as much fun as he’s ever had, and the play shows.” Ohtani does have 179 career home runs in the majors. He surpassed Hideki Matsui for most by a Japanese-born player earlier this month. Matsui had 175 during a 10-year career.
However, one does wonder what it would take for Ohtani to buy Roberts a real Porsche. “If we win the World Series. I’ll think about it,” Ohtani said.
