Shohei Ohtani will bat but not pitch at this year’s MLB All-Star game, MLB.com reports.
Ohtani is typically a two-way player for the Los Angeles Angels, meaning he excels at both pitching and batting. He will rest his arm during the All-Star game to help the Angels.
“I’m pitching the first game out of the All-Star break, so I’d only have two days in between,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, according to MLB.com. “I obviously prioritize the season over the All-Star Game.”
The 28-year-old pitcher is having a fantastic season and is one of the favorites for American League MVP. Justin Verlander, a pitcher for the Houston Astros, recently praised Ohtani’s two-way capabilities.
“If someone goes out and is one of the best hitters, and they are also one of the best pitchers, it’s hard to vote against them,” Verlander said, according to New York Post.
Kurt Streeter, a sports writer for The New York Times, compared Ohtani’s 2021 season to a season from Babe Ruth.
“Ohtani, 28, had a season in 2021 unlike any baseball has seen since the days of Ted (Double Duty) Radcliffe and Babe Ruth,” Streeter wrote in a recent piece.
Ohtani won’t take the mound on Tuesday night, but he is set to bat in the lead-off position against NL starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, MLB.com reports.
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