Ranking the top 5 Japanese-born home run leaders in MLB history alongside Shohei Ohtani

There haven't been many slugging Japanese-born players in the MLB like Shohei Ohtani. In general, there haven't been many players in baseball like Ohtani, who just recently became the all-time leader in home runs among players born in Japan. He has since added tremendously to that total and will presumably have a nearly unreachable total by the time he's done playing.

There have been a lot of prominent Japanese hitters who've come over to the MLB. More will likely come as the sport continues to get more prominent worldwide, but for now, here's the list of the top five Japanese-born home run leaders.

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Top 5 MLB home run hitters born in Japan

5) Tadahito Iguchi

Tadahito Iguchi wasn't in the MLB for all that long, playing with the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres from 2005 to 2008. Nevertheless, his 44 career blasts were enough to land him in the top five of Japanese-born home run hitters.

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4) Kenji Johjima

Kenji Johjima had a very short-lived run in the MLB. The former Seattle Mariners slugger played just four seasons in the United States from 2006 to 2009, but he managed to blast 48 home runs in that time and sit pretty high on the all-time list for Japanese players. He averaged 12 home runs per season but hit a high of 18 in his rookie season.

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3) Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki played 19 seasons in the MLB

Far from a power hitter, Ichiro Suzuki finds himself on this list thanks to his impressive longevity. The Seattle Mariners icon played 19 seasons and hit 117 home runs during that span. That's an average of just over six home runs per season, but he played long enough to find himself on this list. He also played for the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins.

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2) Hideki Matsui

Hideki Matsui hit a lot of home runs

Hideki Matsui was a prolific hitter for the New York Yankees, anchoring the designated hitter spot for years. His home runs helped them win their last World Series title. One that didn't count came in that World Series. An eight-pitch at-bat ended with a massive blast in Game 6, which helped to seal their 27th championship.

In total, across 10 seasons in the MLB, Matsui hit 175 home runs. He also played for the Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays.

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1) Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani has the most home runs for a Japanese player

Shohei Ohtani is unmatched by most Japanese players. He has played in the MLB for six full years and is in his seventh season now. That's all the time it took for him to become the all-time leader in home runs by a Japanese player. He has 184 and counting in over six seasons.

He's under contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 10 seasons. If he even hits 20 a year (a low mark for him), he will almost surpass 400 for a career and be far and away the most prolific Japanese hitter ever.