Shohei Ohtani hits record-equaling 175th MLB home run vs. Padres... just hours after his ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was in court over claims he stole $16MILLION from Dodgers star

Shohei Ohtani hit a record-equaling 175th home run in Major League Baseball on Friday night - just hours after his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara appeared in court over allegations he stole $16million from the Dodgers star.

Ohtani tied Hideki Matsui for the most homers by a Japan-born player with a solo shot during the first inning of Los Angeles' game against the San Diego Padres.

The $700million superstar drove an elevated outside fastball from Michael King 403ft into the center-field stands with one out, closing the Dodgers to 2-1. It was his fourth homer for the Dodgers in eight games.

On Friday afternoon, a federal judge in Los Angeles ordered Mizuhara to undergo gambling addiction treatment amid allegations he used $16m from Ohtani's bank account to pay off debts.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Friday night's game that Ohtani has handled the situation 'with flying colors'. 

'He´s done a great job of just focusing on playing baseball and not letting it be a distraction for him,' Roberts said.

Ohtani also extended his hitting streak to eight games. 

A two-time AL MVP, Ohtani signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers during the offseason after six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.

Matsui played 10 seasons in the majors from 2003-12. His first seven years were with the New York Yankees followed by one season apiece with the Angels, Oakland and Tampa Bay.

Ichiro Suzuki is the only other Japanese-born player to reach the century mark in home runs with 117.