Shohei Ohtani makes more MLB history with 493-foot home run to tie June recor

Kevin Skiver

Shohei Ohtani makes more MLB history with 493-foot home run to tie June recor image

Shohei Ohtani is unbelievable.

Every night the Angels two-way superstar is doing something amazing. It never fails. If he wasn't also a pitcher, he still would be one of the most valuable players in baseball. His offensive bWAR was second in MLB heading into Friday at 3.8, trailing only the Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr.

For Friday's nightly highlight, Ohtani hit a 493-foot home run against the Diamondbacks. It was his MLB-leading 30th of the year and his 15th in June. It's the longest home run in the majors in 2023, surpassing Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton's 485-foot moonshot against the Giants on April 2.

On top of all of that, it's the longest homer of Ohtani's career, with his previous long being 470 feet in 2021 against the Royals, and it tied the American League record for home runs in June.

The only downer is that the homer came with Los Angeles trailing by five runs in the sixth inning. The Angels lost 6-2.

MORE: Mike Trout on how to keep Shohei Ohtani with Angels

Longest MLB home runs in 2023

Ohtani's home run is the longest of the 2023 season, passing Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees. A look at the top 10, by distance, after the blast:

Date Player Team Opponent Distance Stadium
June 30 Shohei Ohtani Angels Diamondbacks 493 feet Angel Stadium
April 2 Giancarlo Stanton Yankees Giants 485 feet Yankee Stadium
June 7 Nolan Jones Rockies Giants 483 feet Coors Field
April 12 Jarred Kelenic Mariners Cubs 482 feet Wrigley Field
April 29 Brandon Crawford Giants Padres 482 feet Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu
April 11 C.J. Cron Rockies Cardinals 482 feet Coors Field
June 16 Travis d'Arnaud Braves Rockies 474 feet Truist Park
April 29 LaMonte Wade Jr. Giants Padres 474 feet Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu
April 3 Austin Riley Braves Cardinals 473 feet Busch Stadium
June 16 Travis d'Arnaud Braves Rockies 473 feet Truist Park

Of note: The home runs by Jones, Crawford, Cron and Wade came at alltitude: Denver for Jones and Cron, Mexico City for .

MORE: If the Angels aren't trading Shohei Ohtani, roster upgrades are critical

Most home runs in a month

The MLB record for home runs in a month is 20 by Sammy Sosa for the Cubs in June 1998. In non-steroid times, Rudy York hit 18 for the Tigers in August 1937 and Stanton hit 18 for the Marlins in August 2017. Babe Ruth hit 17 for the Yankees in September 1927.

Ohtani's 15 homers in June tied the American League record for most in the month. He joined Ruth (1930), Bob Johnson (1934, A's) and Roger Maris (1961, Yankees).

Fifteen home runs in a month represent a career high for Ohtani, surpassing his 13 from June 2021.

Shohei Ohtani June stats

Ohtani did more than mash in June. He put up statlines at the plate and on the mound that bordered on supernatural.

Shohei Ohtani June batting stats

AVG OBP SLG HR BB SO
.392 .484 .931 15 19 26

Shohei Ohtani June pitching stats

IP ERA BAA WHIP BB SO
30.1 3.26 .228 1.22 11 37

MLB.com researcher Sarah Langs noted that Ohtani holds the top four spots for most home runs while also striking out 30-plus players, with this month being a career best.

MORE: How many homers is Shohei Ohtani on pace to hit in 2023?

Most home runs through June in MLB history

Ohtani's home run Friday was his 30th of the season, just two off the American League record for most home runs through June 30. Ken Griffey Jr. set the record in 1997.

The MLB record is 39 by Barry Bonds in 2001, the year he set the MLB record with 73 home runs.

The Sporting News has Ohtani on pace to hit 58 home runs in 2023.

It's just the latest chapter in what is shaping up to be the most special contract year in MLB history, surpassing even Aaron Judge's 62-home-run season in 2022. If Ohtani can keep up this torrid pace, the scramble to land him in the offseason will be unprecedented.

Kevin Skiver

Kevin Skiver Photo

Kevin Skiver has been a content producer at Sporting News since 2021. He previously worked at CBS Sports as a trending topics writer, and now writes various pieces on MLB, the NFL, the NBA, and college sports. He enjoys hiking and eating, not necessarily in that order.