ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 32nd homer for the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, breaking Hideki Matsui's record for homers in a major league season by a Japanese player.
Ohtani surpassed Matsui's full-season record before the All-Star break with his solo shot to right in the fifth inning against Boston on Wednesday. Matsui set the mark with the Yankees in 2004.
Matsui issued a statement through the Angels immediately after Ohtani broke his mark, praising the achievement as "just a passing point for a hitter like Shohei.
"I was once considered a long ball hitter in the majors, but I believe that he truly is a long ball hitter," Matsui said.