Okamoto Sets Blue Jays Rookie HR Record

Kazuma Okamoto crushed Toronto's rookie home run record by belting his 25th of the season in a 10-5 win over the Rays, fueling a Blue Jays surge as they chase a Wild Card spot. The milestone helped Toronto build a 7-3 lead, with Josh Smith and Alejandro Kirk also going deep as part of a 13-of-19 run for the club. Okamoto’s performance comes amid a strong season for the Jays, who lead the team in homers and RBIs with 25 and 72, respectively, though his batting average sits around .228. After starting hot, Okamoto had slumped prior to Tuesday’s game, but his franchise-record blast underscored his value as Toronto relies on him to carry the lineup. The Jays schedule shows Max Scherzer facing Drew Rasmussen in the next game as they look to sustain momentum with Okamoto continuing to provide power and run-production.