Los Angeles Angels mega-star Shohei Ohtani has made fans marvel worldwide. Will that continue at the 2023 Home Run Derby?
We’re not sure, said the Angel two-way star himself. Ohtani told reporters that he isn’t quite that far down the road on that decision yet.
The Associated Press, via ESPN.com, wrote on his status:
Shohei Ohtani already knows he is headed to the All-Star Game in two weeks. It remains unclear whether he will take part in the Home Run Derby in Seattle on July 10.
“I don’t know when my next [pitching] start is, and it really kind of depends on that. I haven’t thought that far ahead yet,” Ohtani said through his interpreter after the Los Angeles Angels beat the Chicago White Sox4-2 on Tuesday night.
Ohtani is one of MLB’s biggest stars. He is doing otherworldly things that have had people fawning over him almost nightly. He pitches at an elite level and swings the bat at an elite level. Shohei won the AL MVP two seasons ago and finished a runner-up to Aaron Judge last season. But right now, he’s making one heck of a case for both the MVP and the Cy Young Award.
Will he add the Home Run Derby to his arsenal? It will depend on a couple of things. But MLB has seen, in recent years even, the launching pad that the Derby can provide. It propelled Judge during his rookie season, and Julio Rodriguez made headlines last year. If Ohtani is in the Derby? It could be quite a huge boon.
Shohei Ohtani is the Major League leader in home runs (28) and RBI. He’s hitting .304 and slashing .386/.654 in on-base and slugging. On the mound, he is 12 strikeouts off the AL leader, Kevin Gausman, with 127 to the Blue Jays ace’s 139.
