Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani strokes a third-inning single against the Colorado Rockies on April 20, 2026, in Denver. (©SANKEI)
Dating back to 2025, Shohei Ohtani has reached base in 52 consecutive MLB regular-season games.
Ohtani finished the Los Angeles Dodgers' 12-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday, April 20, at Denver's Coors Field, with two walks and two runs scored. He extended his streak to 52 with a third-inning single and went 1-for-4.
With his base hit off Rockies starter Jose Quintana, Ohtani surpassed Babe Ruth's career-best on-base streak: 51 games, a big highlight for the New York Yankees in 1923.
"It's ironic that two two-way players, and arguably two of the best of all time [crossed paths on the leaderboard]," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, according to MLB.com.
Roberts called it "a tremendous streak," noting that "it's hard to get on base, certainly when everyone's trying to target you."
He added, "This streak is one of the great ones, and hopefully he can keep it going."
Ohtani needs to reach base safely in two more games to climb into second place on the Dodgers' all-time list. Shawn Green is currently second with a 53-game streak, set in 2000.
Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams set the MLB record of 84 consecutive games reaching base in 1949.
Through April 20, Ohtani is hitting .272 with five homers and 11 RBIs in 22 games. He's walked 16 times and scored 15 runs for the National League-leading Dodgers (16-6).
Ohtani Meets 100-Year-0ld Nagasaki Bomb Survivor
Before the Dodgers' April 18 game against the Rockies in Denver, Ohtani presented an autographed baseball to Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley, a 100-year-old resident of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Born in Japan, she was 19 when the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki in August 1945. She married an American and moved to the United States in the 1950s.
A fervent supporter of the Dodgers, Kelley watches all of the team's games, MLB.com reported.
She attended the weekend game with family members. Before the game, Kelley met Ohtani, teammate Roki Sasaki and Roberts, along with Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano.
During LA's pregame workout, Ohtani greeted Kelley on the field and posed for pictures with her.
Kelley described Ohtani as "the pride of Japan," Chunichi Sports reported.
It was a big thrill for her to meet him.
"This is a special day in my life," Kelley was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "When I get home, I'm going to call my siblings in Japan."
She described meeting Ohtani as a "dream come true."
Murakami Homers in 3 Consecutive MLB Games
Chicago White Sox newcomer Munetaka Murakami homered in all three games of his team's recent series against the Athletics in West Sacramento, California.
In the opener, Murakami went 3-for-5 with a seventh-inning grand slam to center on Friday, April 17. The White Sox won 9-2, a game in which the ex-Tokyo Yakult Swallows star batted second and started at first base.
"Individually, it's really big for me to hit a grand slam," Murakami said through an interpreter on Friday, according to the Chicago Tribune. "As well as put additional runs on the board. Both ways, I'm really happy with the outcome."
Murakami whacked a solo homer in the seventh on April 18 in Chicago's 7-6 loss in 11 innings. He also walked three times.
The White Sox rebounded with a 7-4 victory on Sunday, April 19. Murakami clubbed a two-run round-tripper, his eighth of the season, in the fifth.
In 2025, the White Sox had the American League's worst record (60-102). Murakami's new team has eight wins in its first 22 games this season.
Murakami is batting .208 in 22 games. He's struck out 31 times in 72 at-bats. The burly slugger has also driven in 16 runs.
Astros' Imai Sidelined with Arm Fatigue
Houston Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai is in the midst of a stint on the 15-day injured list.
Imai was placed on the IL on April 13 (retroactive to April 12) with right arm fatigue.
In his first MLB season, Imai has made three starts for Houston. The former Saitama Seibu Lions pitcher is 0-1 with a 7.27 ERA. In 8⅔ innings, Imai has allowed seven hits and issued 11 walks. He's recorded 13 strikeouts.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed's [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
