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MLB·ANALYSIS·July 11, 2026 12:58 AM ET

Okamoto ties Ohtani atop MLB's Japanese-born rookie home run list

Blue Jays rookie shares the record with Ohtani.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 111 min read
Post on X
Most homers by a Japanese-born rookie in @MLB history: 1) Kazuma Okamoto 1) Shohei Ohtani 😱 #BlueJays50 https://t.co/ Via @BlueJays on X

What happened: The Blue Jays' account listed Kazuma Okamoto tied with Shohei Ohtani for the most home runs by a Japanese-born rookie in MLB history. The pairing put Okamoto's first MLB season alongside Ohtani's rookie debut mark.

Why it matters: The comparison comes weeks after Okamoto was backed for an All-Star nod. Being named alongside Ohtani, MLB's most prominent Japanese-born player, underscores how quickly Okamoto has climbed the league's rookie home run charts in his debut season.

What to watch: Okamoto and the Blue Jays are in San Diego to face the Padres, with his rookie home run pace among the storylines to track.

Sources

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MLBAnalysisKazuma OkamotoShohei Ohtani
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