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BASEBALL-Japan cheers as nationwide hero Ohtani becomes the majors initially 50-50 man

Japan erupted in cheers on Friday morning after national hero Shohei Ohtani blasted his method into Major League Baseball history as the first gamer to hit 50 crowning achievement and steal 50 bases in a season.

Ohtani-san was the top trending subject on X in Japan, and chief federal government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi lauded the Los Angeles Dodgers star's remarkable accomplishment in inaugurating baseball's 50-50 club with a six-hit, three-homer game.

We wish to reveal sincere congratulations on achievement of this major record, Hayashi told reporters at a routine press conference. We look forward to seeing more terrific things from Ohtani, who has actually currently achieved so much and broken new ground.

Ohtani, 30, entered the video game on Thursday night requiring one taken base and two home runs to accomplish the feat, a very first in the 148-year history of the majors. He ended with 51 each in the 20-4 rout of the Miami Marlins.

The first batting and pitching double hazard in the majors given that Babe Ruth, Ohtani has actually a been a focal point for Japanese national pride because his 2018 debut in the American League with the Los Angeles Angels, where he won two The majority of Belongings Player awards.

Every aspect of Ohtani's life has been a target for limelights, from his abrupt marriage statement this year and a gambling scandal with his ex-translator, to the name of his canine.

Ohtani-mania in Japan entered into overdrive when he signed a record $700 million contract with the Dodgers at the end of last season and concentrated on batting following surgery on his pitching arm. Dodger blue replaced the Angels' red among best-selling jerseys in Tokyo, and every homer en route to 50 was replayed on national news programs each night.

Congratulations for Ohtani gathered across social media.

Japan's record-making machine has done it once again! U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel posted on X. A true worldwide ambassador of the video game.

Takuya Tasso, guv of Ohtani's home prefecture of Iwate, likened the slugger's historic night to the Big Bang.

It's as if a singularity has actually opened, and a brand-new universe is being developed with his unbelievable performance, Tasso composed.

I'm happy to be Japanese, composed Deburi0122. Incredible ... I'm so delighted.

With an enforcing 6'4 (193 cm) frame and capability to squash 500-foot homers and toss 100 mph (161 kph) fastballs, Ohtani shattered expectations for ball gamers from Japan, stated Robert Whiting, who has discussed Japanese baseball for years.

Ohtani beats the Americans by themselves terms, said Whiting, He may perhaps be the best ever, in MLB history, when you think about that he both hits and pitches at a star level.

There are a great deal of young Japanese, including Itsuki Takemoto of Wakayama now at University of Hawaii, who want to follow in his steps, and might well do.

(source: Reuters)