Ohtani's 100th home run after signing a $700 million contract, and Kim Hye-sung's return pinch runner, a painful loss in which all runs were in vain

Sep 03, 2025

Ohtani's 100th home run after signing a 700 million contract, and Kim Hye-sung's return pinch runner, a painful loss in which all runs were in vain
LA Dodgers Kim Hye-sung is making a high-five with his teammates after playing as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on the 3rd (Korea time). AFP Yonhap News



Ohtani's 100th home run after signing a 700 million contract, and Kim Hye-sung's return pinch runner, a painful loss in which all runs were in vain
Shohei Ohtani looking at the ground from the dugout during the defense in the bottom of the second inning. AFP Yonhap News
Ohtani's 100th home run after signing a 700 million contract, and Kim Hye-sung's return pinch runner, a painful loss in which all runs were in vain
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani is welcomed by Mookie Betts after hitting a superior goal in the top of the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on the 3rd (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani has reached the 100th home run mark in two years since his transfer. Kim Hye-sung, who was released from the injured list (IL), played as a pinch runner and scored a point.

Ohtani played as a leadoff designated hitter in the first of three consecutive away games against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on the 3rd (Korea time) and hit 3 hits, 2 RBIs and 1 run in 5 at-bats, including a home run.

However, the Dodgers lost 7-9. Ohtani batted .279 (146 for 523), 46 homers, 87 RBIs, 125 runs scored, and a 0.998 OPS. Scoring and Ruta (319) are the first in both leagues, and have maintained their slugging percentage, OPS first, and home run second in the NL.




Ohtani hit a home run in his second at-bat.

There is no runner after one out in the top of the third inning, trailing 1-4. After driving Pittsburgh right-hander Bubba Chandler to a ball count of 3B1S, Ohtani pulled a 99.2-mile fastball flying in the low strike zone on his fifth pitch and easily over the right fence. The ball, which flew at a launch angle of 23 degrees and 120 miles (193.1 kilometers), was inserted 373 feet away from the stands inside the right foul pole.

It is the first time in nine days that Ohtani hit a home run since he hit a solo shot against the San Diego Padres in the top of the ninth inning on the 25th of last month. He is now three behind Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber (49), who ranks first in home runs in the NL. It was a day off in Philadelphia.




It was Ohtani's 46th homer for this season and his 100th homer since joining the Dodgers in a 10-year, 700 million-dollar free agent contract last year. Ohtani hit 54 homers last year to win the NL title in this category, and added 46 this year to finally achieve the 100th homerun mark as a member of the Dodgers. He has 271 home runs since his major league debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018.

Ohtani's 100th home run after signing a 700 million contract, and Kim Hye-sung's return pinch runner, a painful loss in which all runs were in vain
Otani hits a home run in the third inning and punches Teoscar Hernandez. AFP Yonhap News
According to MLB.com , Ohtani was tied for third in the most home runs in the first two seasons of the transfer, along with Roger Maris (1960-1961, Yankees) after Babe Ruth (1920-1921; New York Yankees) and Alex Rodriguez (2001-2002, Texas Rangers).

Ohtani achieved this record in 294 games in terms of the number of games played, the third fastest time after Mark Maguire (230 games, 1999 St. Louis Cardinals) and Ruth (250 games).




However, the batting speed of this home run is the fastest record in Ohtani's major league career. He hit his first 120-mile-high ball in his career, exceeding 119.2 miles of his right-handed hit in the top of the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 28 last year. Among the homers, he exceeded his superior solo shot (118.7 miles) in the top of the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals on April 24 last year by 1.3 miles.

He was also the third fastest hitter among all hitters this season, following Pittsburgh's O'Neill Cruz (122.9 miles) and Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (120.4 miles).

In addition, it is the fastest hit by Dodgers players since 2015 when they began measuring the speed of the hit.

Ohtani's 100th home run after signing a 700 million contract, and Kim Hye-sung's return pinch runner, a painful loss in which all runs were in vain
Otani hits a double to the left in the top of the seventh inning. ImagesYonhap News
Ohtani's bat also exploded in the top of the seventh inning, trailing 4-7. Leading Miguel Rojas got on base with a left-handed hit and no outs, first base. Ohtani then hit a line drive double to left-center to lead the opportunity to second and third bases with no outs.

Against right-hander Isaac Mattson, he pushed a 96.8-mile outside fastball with a ball count of 1B2S on the fourth pitch, flew to the left at a speed of 100.9 miles, and slid to second base to be safe. The Dodgers then added two runs with Mookie Betts' groundout to shortstop and Will Smith's timely hit to follow 6-7.

Ohtani also hit a double and hit an RBI single in the ninth inning, trailing 6-9. With the lead Rojas on base with a walk and Kim Hye-sung as a pinch runner, Ohtani hit Pittsburgh right-hander Dennis Santana's third pitch of 94.9 miles on the body to bring home first baseman Kim Hye-sung with a double that crosses the center field height and falls on the fence.

Kim Hye-sung's timely hit has restarted the scoring formula.

However, with no outs and runners on second base, Betts, Freddie Freeman and Smith all withdrew to the outfield fly and fell to their knees by two points. be caught by the underdog Pittsburgh at a critical timeJuss remained atop the NL West with a 78-60 record, but failed to close the gap with the NL second-place Philadelphia Phillies (80-58), who could go straight to the division series.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.