Japan’s Shohei Ohtani (Angels) on Sunday became the first in Major League Baseball history to be selected for the All-Star Game as position player and pitcher.
The Japanese sensation, who leads the majors in home runs with 30, was chosen as the starter for the American League team, receiving 121 votes in player, coach and manager voting.
Ohtani had already been selected as the designated hitter for the AL team and is also registered for the home run competition (Home Run Derby).
“He will participate in the Home Run Derby, pitch and bat in the game. That has never happened, ”Angels manager Joe Maddon said.
Ohtani has been compared for his two-way play to legendary American Hall of Famer Babe Ruth, who retired in 1935 after 22 seasons.
Ruth finished her career with 714 home runs and 10 World Series titles. But Ruth didn’t pitch much after the 1919 season, and the All-Star Game only started in 1933.
Heading into next Sunday’s event, Ohtani has a .278 batting average and 66 RBIs along with a 3-1 record and a 3.60 ERA in 12 starts as a pitcher with 83 strikeouts in 60 innings.
He will join fellow starting pitchers Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees, and Lance Lynn and Carlos Rodón of the Chicago White Sox in the All-Star Game on July 13 at Coor’s Field in Denver, home of the Colorado Rockies.
Maddon said earlier in the week that he expects Ohtani to pitch at least one inning. “Of course, he’d only pitch one inning, and maybe make an at-bat,” Maddon said. Let him bat and pitch. People want to see that. (AFP)