With a 44th consecutive game to reach base, Shohei Ohtani set a new mark for Japanese-born players, passing Ichiro Suzuki’s previous streak.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Shohei Ohtani PASSED Ichiro Suzuki for the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player on Friday night.
The Los Angeles Dodgers star singled in the fifth against Texas Rangers’ Kumar Rocker, extending his hitting streak to 44 games. It was his 13th game to reach base in as many attempts this season. His streak began on August 24 and spanned the final 31 games of last season.
“He’s getting walks, he’s getting strikeouts and he really hasn’t started yet,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Ohtani struck out once and was intentionally walked in the eighth with runners on first and second.
“Players like to hit, they like to swing the bat, but he’s smart enough to know that if they’re not going to play against him, they’re going to play around him, so that’s a better plan to go with,” Roberts said.
Ohtani is tied with Len Koenecke (1934) and Zack Wheat (1919-1920) for the fifth-longest on-base streak in Dodger franchise history. He has reached base safely in each of his seven nights as a Dodger.
“I thought he was going to hit a home run tonight,” Roberts said, “and I think he wanted a home run tonight on his odd night, but it just wasn’t to be.”
Suzuki reached base in 43 consecutive games in 2009 with the Seattle Mariners. Ohtani has said he admired Suzuki growing up.
Ohtani had already passed Hall of Famer in another category. In 2024, Ohtani’s 59 stolen bases broke Suzuki’s record for steals by a Japanese-born player in a season. Suzuki had 56 in 2001.
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