Shohei Ohtani shined, becoming the first player to appear in the All-Star Game as a pitcher and batter.
With a 100 mph fastball, the Japanese flawlessly solved the first inning for the American League on Tuesday. In the batter’s cage, he went 2-0 with a couple of grounders.
He was deprived of a hit by a good defensive play early in the game.
“More people are watching baseball,” he said. “That makes me happy and it’s good for the sport.”
For a moment, it seemed that all the attention was on the sensation player of the Los Angeles Angels, as the mid-season classic resumed, which could not be carried out in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Ohtani is a leading MLB home runner and one of the AL’s best pitchers.
He was the starter and designated hitter for the New Circuit team. He was relieved by Lance Lynn on the mound in the second inning.
But due to a rule adjustment made with the Asian star in mind, Ohtani was able to continue as a designated hitter. He left in the fifth act, replaced by a batter.
The players in both caves were leaning against the fences to watch him.
“This has been the most memorable experience,” Ohtani said. “Obviously, I have never played in the playoffs or the World Series. Once you do, that will probably be higher. But this has been the most memorable so far ”.
Ohtani participated in the Home Run Derby on Monday, won by Pete Alonso of the New York Mets. The Japanese had 28 homers, including a 513-footer, and was eliminated by Fernando Tatis Jr. in the second tiebreaker of the first round.
After the activity, Ohtani did not get up until 10:30 in the morning.
“It was a little more tiring in relation to the regular season, but it felt good, because everyone had fun,” he said. (AP)