LOS ANGELES — Before Friday’s game against the Braves, Shohei Ohtani walked into Dave Roberts’ office. Ohtani, with a straight face, delivered the news to his skipper that he got him a car to commemorate whenever he passes the manager for most homers by a Japanese-born player in franchise history.
Well, Ohtani did get Roberts a car, but just not what he was expecting. Ohtani jokingly handed Roberts a toy Porsche. The two then burst out laughing.
In the Dodgers’ 11-2 win over the Braves on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani finally bested Roberts, launching his eighth homer of the season in the third inning off right-hander Bryce Elder, becoming the Japanese-born player with most homers in franchise history just 34 games into his Dodgers career.
“He said he wanted a car,” Ohtani said through translator Will Ireton. “I’m glad he’s happy. He got a car.”
Shohei Ohtani gifts Dave Roberts a toy Porsche
To understand why Ohtani pulled a prank on Roberts — who was born in Okinawa on a military base before playing high school baseball in California, then went on to UCLA — you first have to know the entire backstory. Over the last few weeks, Ohtani’s chase of Roberts’ Dodger record has become a playful joke between the player and manager. For Ohtani, it has also been — at least jokingly — something to chase in the middle of the long grind of a baseball season.
Here’s a timeline of how the joke began, and how it grew to Ohtani giving Roberts the toy Porsche on Friday.
April 12: Ohtani is informed
After Ohtani matched Hideki Matsui for the most homers by any Japanese-born player with 175, the Dodgers slugger was asked if he knew who held the team record for most homers by a Japanese-born player.
Ohtani laughed and responded, “I don’t know.” When he was told that it was his manager, he broke out in laughter and asked, “Roberts?!”
That same night, Roberts was informed that Ohtani is aware of his record. At the time, the two-way superstar had four homers, still three shy of matching Roberts.
“I still got a couple days until my record’s broke,” Roberts smiled.
April 21: Ohtani never forgets
With a homer against the Mets, Ohtani finally got past Matsui with his 176th career homer. After the game, Ohtani was asked if he was looking forward to accomplishing everything Matsui did in the postseason during his 10-year Major League career.
But instead of answering that specific question, Ohtani remembered what he was told almost 10 days prior. He needed two more to match Roberts. The chase was on.
“Before that, I want to break my manager’s record,” Ohtani said.
April 23: Close call
Ohtani, still needing one homer to match Roberts’ mark of seven, hit a fly ball that came a few feet away from leaving the yard against the Nationals.
“I told him I was begging for it to get down so it wouldn’t go out of the ballpark,” Roberts joked. “I live another day.”
April 24: The seed is planted
In a pregame scrum before a game against the Nationals, Ohtani was asked if he was planning on gifting his manager anything once he matches or breaks his record. The question appeared to get lost in translation.
But when the same question was posed to Roberts, he couldn’t help but laugh. Roberts really found it funny when he was told by the media that they were trying to get him a Porsche.
“Revisit that one,” Roberts yelled with a big smile. “I need a new car!”
In December, after reliever Joe Kelly handed over the No. 17 to Ohtani, the new Dodgers superstar responded in kind by handing over the keys to a brand new Porsche.
Kelly’s wife, Ashley, who had done her part to court Ohtani for the Dodgers in free agency with her amazing #Ohtake17 campaign, posted about the generous gift on Instagram, sharing a video of her opening the front door to their house to reveal the car waiting in the driveway.
April 26: And now we’re tied
Even with all the jokes, nobody expected Ohtani to really remember — or care — about this record. After all, it was just seven homers. But once he blasted his seventh homer of the season, Ohtani made his way down the dugout to find Roberts.
“Now we’re tied,” Ohtani told Roberts with a smile.
Over the last few weeks, Ohtani’s teammates have given him credit for being funny. This “chase” to break Roberts’ record has shown a more playful side to the Japanese star. The toy car only added to it.
May 4: Ohtani stands alone
Just hours after Roberts revealed Ohtani’s gift, the Dodgers slugger took care of business against the Braves. As Ohtani rounded third, you could see him peek inside the Dodgers’ dugout.
Once Ohtani got to the top step, there was Roberts with both of his arms raised up in the air. The chase of his manager’s record was officially over, but the journey showed a playful side to Ohtani, and now he stands alone.
“Tonight, he passed me for the Japanese-born Dodger home run record,” Roberts said as he stormed out of the clubhouse during Ohtani’s postgame press conference. “I just want to say congratulations and thank you very much. This is my car. The difference is Joe’s [Kelly] car doesn’t fit in my office. This car fits on my desk.”