Shohei Ohtani is Dodgers’ only elected starter for All-Star Game
LOS ANGELES — While the Home Run Derby will not happen for Shohei Ohtani, the All-Star Game is a full go.
Ohtani was named the National League’s starter at designated hitter for the midsummer exhibition at Arlington, Texas, in less than two weeks. Ohtani was the only Dodgers player named a starter for the July 16 contest against the American League.
Outfielder Teoscar Hernandez finished fourth in NL outfield balloting, falling short to the San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. by approximately 3,000 votes, which is less than the number of people who sat behind him in the left field bleachers on Wednesday night.
A number of Dodgers remain in line to be named to backup roles or pitching spots, including Hernandez, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts advocated for Freeman to replace the injured Bryce Harper at first base. Pitchers and reserves will be announced Sunday.
“Even though things are announced right now, there’s certainly things that change in the days preceding the game and hopefully the Dodgers will be well represented,” Roberts said.
Ohtani’s selection was an easy one. In his first season with the Dodgers, the three-time American League All-Star, was batting .320 with 27 home runs and 64 RBIs in 83 games, before play Wednesday. He was also the NL leader in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage (.646) and was the only NL hitter with an OPS over 1.000 at 1.048.
Ohtani is the first player elected to start at designated hitter in four straight All-Star Games. He was an unprecedented two-way All-Star from 2021-23 when he was with the Angels, but he isn’t pitching this season while he recovers from reconstructive elbow surgery.
“It’s hard to obviously ignore Shohei and what he’s done on and off the field,” Roberts said.
Ohtani did say late Tuesday night that he was not likely to participate in the Home Run Derby, making a nod to his ongoing rehab for elbow surgery last offseason. Roberts backed up Ohtani’s reasoning for skipping the event.
“There’s been some conversations going on,” Ohtani said Tuesday through interpreter Will Ireton. “I’m in the middle of my rehab progression, so it’s not going to look like I’ll be participating.”
BETTS WORKOUT
Mookie Betts mimicked ground balls at shortstop on Wednesday as he continued to keep his body active while he waits for the broken bone in his left hand to heal.
Betts has been on the injured list since June 17 after he fractured his hand when he was hit by a pitch from the Kansas City Royals’ Dan Altavilla. He is about two weeks into a six-to-eight week recovery program.
“I’ve been throwing, running, working out,” Betts said Wednesday. “It’s all I can really do. I can’t grip anything so there’s a lot of baseball that I can’t do.”
Discussions already are underway about Betts potentially moving off shortstop when he returns as Miguel Rojas remains the captain of the infield. If the change is back to second base or the outfield, or even a return to short, Betts is willing to do whatever is needed.
“It can’t be harder than anything I have taken on this year so it doesn’t matter,” Betts said about potentially changing positions again. “Anything is going to be hard at this point so I’m up for whatever challenge.”
O’MALLEY HONOR
Former owner Walter O’Malley will be added to the Dodgers’ Ring of Honor in an Aug. 10 ceremony before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
O’Malley became a Dodgers vice president and team lawyer in 1943, a co-owner one year later and majority owner by 1950. He moved the team from Brooklyn to Los Angeles for the start of the 1958 season and was instrumental in the San Francisco Giants moving west as well.
O’Malley also oversaw the construction of Dodger Stadium for $23 million. He passed away in 1979 after owning the club for 29 years.
The Ring of Honor, on the façade of the club level in the left field corner, includes the retired numbers of former players Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Jim Gilliam, Don Sutton, Sandy Koufax, Fernando Valenzuela, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson and Don Drysdale. Former managers Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda also have their numbers retired, while broadcasters Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrin are honored.
ALSO
Roberts said he misspoke and that left-hander Clayton Kershaw will throw a bullpen session on Thursday. Roberts originally said the left-hander would step back on a mound Wednesday as he returns from a week off from his rehab program following offseason shoulder surgery.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks (RHP Zac Gallen, 6-4, 2.83 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Landon Knack, 1-1, 2.08), Thursday, 6:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 830 AM