500-Level Home Run History
Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto Blasts 423-Foot 500-Level Homer, Joins Franchise History
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In the Fighters’ 4-3 walk-off over Chunichi, starter Ren Fukushima worked through trouble while producing a detailed line: despite allowing a run on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth and a hit-by-pitch in the seventh, he “pitched 93 pitches in 7 innings” and yielded “3 hit 2 Walk 8 strike out” with one run allowed, then kept the Tigers off the bases after the mid-game damage.
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The game featured major ninth-inning swings beyond the eventual walk-off: after Chunichi tied things in the top of the ninth when Taisei Yanagawa reached a bases-loaded, two-out jam and “gave up a two-run hit to Kojo Ukai,” the Fighters answered in the bottom of the ninth with a fielder’s choice go-ahead moment and then added a third solo homer to seal the win.
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For Game 2, Tatsuki Mizuno’s go-ahead RBI triple was preceded by precision pitching and then backed by clutch production: after Ren Fukushima “closed the side in order with just eight pitches,” Mizuno drove in momentum with a breaking-ball look and was described as having a “.300 batting average with runners in scoring position” (before the game), plus “the second-highest number of triple in the league for two consecutive years.”
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On the MLB side, Toronto’s Kazuma Okamoto not only became the 10th Blue Jays player to reach the 500-level at Rogers Centre (423 feet off Ryan Weathers), but the report also notes he joined a specific franchise list and entered Friday hitting “.230/.309/.422” with “13 home runs and 38 RBI” while the Blue Jays were “33-36” and “nine games back” in the AL East.
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto blasted a 423-foot home run into the 500-level at Rogers Centre on June 12, becoming only the 10th Blue Jays player ever to reach that deck, according to CBS Sports. The shot — a 111.4 mph liner off Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers — landed in Section 536 and helped Toronto jump to an early 3-0 lead in an eventual 8-5 win.
The blast also made Okamoto the 19th player in MLB history to reach the 500-level since Rogers Centre opened in 1989, per CBS Sports. He joins franchise legends like Joe Carter, Carlos Delgado, and Edwin Encarnacion on that short list.
Okamoto's Historic Shot Comes on a 2-2 Slider
Okamoto was hitting .230/.309/.422 entering Friday's game, with 13 home runs and 38 RBI on the season. His 14th homer of 2026 came on an 87 mph slider from Ryan Weathers in the bottom of the first inning. Exit velocity: 111.4 mph. Launch angle: 28 degrees. The ball traveled 423 feet before clearing the fifth deck in left field, according to CBS Sports.
Weathers had a rough night overall. He allowed six runs in just 4.1 innings and has now surrendered seven home runs over his last three starts. The loss dropped his record to 2-5. Meanwhile, Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk returned from a 62-game absence — a fractured thumb — and went 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs, giving Toronto's lineup a significant boost.
Blue Jays Win but Still Sit Nine Games Back
Toronto improved to 33-36 with the victory. That sounds nice, but the Blue Jays remain nine games behind Tampa Bay and New York in the AL East. Starter Trey Yesavage earned the win at 3-3, though he walked six batters in five-plus innings — a sign that rotation concerns have not gone away.
Okamoto's home run went viral almost immediately. His transition from NPB to MLB has drawn comparisons in Japanese media to Hideki Matsui, while Toronto outlets focus on how he fits next to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. At 33-36, the Blue Jays face a real decision ahead of the trade deadline: contend or sell.
Nippon-Ham Fighters Pull Off Drama-Packed Walk-Off Win
In NPB, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters beat the Chunichi Dragons 4-3 in walk-off fashion to extend their winning streak to nine games, according to Pacific League. Starter Ren Fukushima was the story early. He threw 93 pitches across seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits with eight strikeouts and two walks — a dominant high-quality start.
Then the ninth inning got wild. Chunichi's Kojo Ukai hit a two-run single off reliever Taisei Yanagawa to tie the game. But the Fighters answered right back in the bottom of the ninth with a go-ahead fielder's choice and then a solo homer to seal the 4-3 win. The streak is their longest since 2016, per Pacific League.
Tatsuki Mizuno Triples His Way Into Clutch Legend Status
In Game 2 of the Fighters-Dragons interleague series, shortstop Tatsuki Mizuno delivered a go-ahead RBI triple to swing momentum back to Nippon-Ham. Known as 'Mr. Triple,' Mizuno leads the league in triples for the second straight year. He entered the game hitting .300 with runners in scoring position, according to Pacific League.
Fukushima was sharp again early — retiring the side in order on just eight pitches in one inning. The Fighters went 3-for-3 with extra-base hits in clutch spots. The squad now sits 13-3 during the interleague period. Manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo has turned this roster into the hottest team in NPB right now.
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