Los Angeles Dodgers' Ohtani Shohei (32) tied the record for most consecutive games reached base by a Japanese player in history.
Ohtani started as the No. 1 pitcher in the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the 9th (Korean time).
Leading off the top of the first inning, Ohtani drew a walk from Toronto right-handed starter Dylan Cease to reach base. Ohtani, who has extended his consecutive-game on-base streak since the Aug. 25 game at San Diego last year, reached base in 43 consecutive games with that plate appearance.
The 43-game on-base streak ties the record for most consecutive games reached base by a Japanese player set by Suzuki Ichiro (then of Seattle) on June 15, 2009, against Colorado. Ichiro also had a 40-game on-base streak in 2004, and had held sole possession of the record for 17 years until Ohtani tied it on this day.
The record for most consecutive games reached base by an Asian player is 52 games, set by Choo Shin-soo (then of Texas) in 2018. Ohtani would need to reach base in nine more games to match Choo.
This season, Ohtani, who is playing full-time as both a pitcher and a hitter, has also extended a scoreless inning streak to 22 2/3 innings. Among active players he ranks second behind Mason Miller (San Diego) with 25 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, and he is first among active players by starting pitcher standards.
OSEN=Reporter Gil Jun-young