'Blockbuster' Ohtani Finally Stands Shoulder-to-Shoulder with Choo Shin-soo in 'Great Record'... How Long Will the 'Great March' Continue?

*This content was translated by AI.

Shohei Ohtani (32, Los Angeles Dodgers) has finally matched the consecutive game on-base record of Choo Shin-soo (44, current SSG Landers club owner advisor), a living legend of Korean baseball.

On the 21st (Korean time), Ohtani started as the designated hitter in a road game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, during the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season. He recorded one hit in four at-bats, two walks, two runs scored, one stolen base, and one strikeout.

With this performance, Ohtani achieved 52 consecutive games with an on-base, tying the record for the most consecutive on-base games by an Asian player in Major League Baseball, a record previously held by Choo Shin-soo. Since August 25 last year, following a game against the San Diego Padres, Ohtani has been writing a miraculous history of consecutive on-base appearances in every game.

Choo Shin-soo set a new history for Asian baseball in the 2018 season by achieving 52 consecutive games with an on-base. That year, Choo Shin-soo played in 146 games, posting a batting average of 0.264 (148 hits in 560 at-bats), 21 home runs, 62 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.811, achieving these solid statistics.

Furthermore, with tying the record for consecutive on-base games by an Asian player, Ohtani is now just one game away from the second-highest record in Dodgers franchise history (53 games by Sean Green in 2000). The number one record in Dodgers history was set by Duke Snider in 1954 with 58 games. It remains to be seen how far Ohtani's great consecutive on-base march will continue.

After today's game, Ohtani's season statistics stand at 22 games played, with a batting average of 0.272 (22 hits in 81 at-bats), 5 home runs, 4 doubles, 11 RBIs, 15 runs scored, 16 walks, 23 strikeouts, 1 stolen base (0 failed), an on-base percentage of 0.402, a slugging percentage of 0.506, and an OPS of 0.908.

The Dodgers started with Justin Robleski on the mound. The starting lineup was composed as follows: Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Alex Cole (right fielder), Will Smith (catcher), Teoscar Hernandez (left fielder), Andy Pages (center fielder), Max Muncy (third baseman), Miguel Rojas (shortstop), Santiago Espinal (second baseman), and Dalton Rushing (first baseman).

Colorado started with Jose Quintana on the mound. The starting lineup was set as follows: Jordan Beck (left fielder), Brenton Doyle (center fielder), Hunter Goodman (designated hitter), Tyler Freeman (right fielder), Ezekiel Tovar (shortstop), Troy Johnston (first baseman), Willie Castro (second baseman), Kyle Caruso (third baseman), and Brett Sullivan (catcher).

The Dodgers hit five home runs today to subdue Colorado. Colorado took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Doyle hit a two-run double to left-center, bringing runner Jordan Beck home.

The Dodgers immediately counterattacked in the top of the second inning. After Muncy hit a solo home run over the fence to tie the game, Rojas followed with a solo home run to the left field, taking a 2-1 lead. In the top of the third, the Dodgers added two more runs by taking advantage of Caruso's fielder's choice, an error, and a double play situation. In the top of the fourth, with the bases loaded, Muncy scored on a balk by Quintana, extending the lead to 5-1.

In the sixth, the Dodgers added a run via an intentional walk, and in the seventh, they added another run by capitalizing on an opponent's error. In the top of the eighth, Rushing hit a solo home run to left field, and Teoscar Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to right field, making the score 9-1. Colorado attempted to close the gap in the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run by T.J. Rumfield, but the score difference was already significant. In the top of the ninth, Muncy and Rushing each hit solo home runs. Colorado scored one run in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly, but that was all. Ultimately, the Dodgers secured a decisive 12-3 victory.

Robleski pitched seven innings, allowing eight hits, striking out three, and giving up one earned run, earning the win. This was his third win of the season (undefeated). In the lineup, Muncy dominated with four hits in four at-bats, including two home runs, two RBIs, one walk, and four runs scored. Rushing also performed well, hitting two home runs, with two hits in five at-bats, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Kim Hye-seong was excluded from the active roster but appeared in the bottom of the ninth as a defensive replacement for shortstop, briefly stepping onto the field.

In contrast, Quintana took the loss (2 losses) after pitching five innings, allowing eight hits, one walk, striking out one, and giving up six runs (four earned). In the lineup that hit a total of 11 hits, leadoff hitter Beck recorded three hits, while Castro and Sullivan each contributed with multi-hit performances.

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*This content was translated by AI.