Wladimir Balentien Ties Single-Season Japanese Home Run Record

Wladimir Balentien has already put together one of the best seasons in baseball history as a member of the Yakult Swallows in the Japanese professional baseball league, and now he has his name in the record books.

Yesterday, Balentien hit his 55th home run of the season, tying the single-season record that has been reached by only three players before him. This despite the fact that Japanese pitchers have historically been prone to pitching around players who are within striking distance of the record. This has always been done out of respect of Sadarhu Oh, the Japanese baseball legend who originally set the record.

But Balentien's assault on the record may be coming at just the right time. According to The New York Times, there has recently been a change in attitude towards the sacred nature of Oh's record, and fans and players may be ready to see it fall.

Balentien has 22 games left to try and break the record. Here's hoping he gets something to hit.