URGENT UPDATE: Shohei Ohtani has just hit his 100th home run with the Los Angeles Dodgers, achieving this milestone in record time, but the celebration was short-lived as the Pittsburgh Pirates triumphed with a 9-7 victory on July 25, 2023.
Ohtani’s monumental solo shot off rookie Bubba Chandler (2-0) reached an incredible speed of 120 mph, marking it as the second-hardest hit homer in the MLB this season. This is Ohtani’s 46th home run of the season, and notably, it is the hardest-hit ball of his entire MLB career, according to ESPN Research.
Playing in his 294th game with the Dodgers, Ohtani has become the fastest player in team history to reach 100 home runs, surpassing Gary Sheffield who held the previous record at 399 games. For context, it took Ohtani 444 games to hit 100 home runs during his time with the Los Angeles Angels.
Adding to the drama, after Ohtani’s homer, Teoscar Hernandez delivered a crucial two-out RBI single, and Andy Pages followed with his 24th homer to tie the game at 4-4. However, the Pirates responded fiercely, with Henry Davis regaining the lead with an RBI single in the sixth inning and Jared Triolo contributing a two-out, two-run double.
Despite the loss, Ohtani’s achievement has drawn significant attention, placing him among legends like Mark McGwire and Babe Ruth, who are the only players to reach 100 homers with a single team faster than him.
On the mound, Clayton Kershaw faced a rocky start, allowing four runs and four hits in the first inning. Remarkably, he managed to recover, holding the Pirates hitless for four consecutive innings while allowing just two walks.
As the game progressed into the ninth inning, Dennis Santana walked Miguel Rojas and allowed Ohtani’s second double of the night, but he ultimately closed the game for his 12th save by retiring the next three batters.
As fans process this thrilling game, all eyes will be on Ohtani as he continues to break records and push the limits of baseball excellence. Stay tuned for updates on his journey and what this means for the Dodgers moving forward.
