Will history-making Shohei Ohtani pitch in the MLB All-Star Game?

Shohei Ohtani was selected to the American League All-Star team as a pitcher on Sunday, creating more baseball history. He is the first player to become an All-Star batsman and pitcher at the same time. The first All-Star Game was held in 1933.

The honor of hitting is well-deserved. As a regular hitter for the Angels, he is one of the best offensive players in the game. Due to the depth of the starting pitcher candidate and his less compelling numbers, pitcher designation may be controversial.

SN answered the big questions about Ohtani’s All-Star qualifications and whether he can occupy the territory on July 13th:

All-star list: beginner | reserve

What are Shohei Ohtani’s batting and pitching statistics in 2021?

In the July 4th game, Ohtani hit 31 home runs (mostly in Grand Slams), 67 hits (ranked third in MLB) and compiled 1.070 OPS (ranked in MLB) third).

His 31st home run was hit in Sunday’s game against the Orioles, tying him with Hideki Matsui (2004, Yankees), a Japanese-born in Major League Baseball Most of the players’ home runs.

His pitching statistics are good, but not great: 3.60 ERA (3.74 FIP) and 83 strikeouts in 60 innings (12.5 strikeouts per nine innings). On June 30, in a game against the Yankees, he was accused of scoring 7 points in two-thirds of the game, so the ERA took a hit.

It is fair to ask whether his uniqueness as a two-way player affects players who voted for the All-Star Reserve or MLB, which determines the final roster for each league.

Can Shohei Ohtani participate in the All-Star Game?

At least, the schedule will allow it. He is ready to start in the game against the Red Sox on Tuesday, which will be his last start before the break. The Angels have a rest day on Thursday, so they only need four starters after Otani this week. If Otani prevails in the All-Star Game, he will rest for six days.

As for whether the Angels will allow it, manager Joe Maddon accepted.

“Shohei’s maximum participation within my limits is the right thing to do,” Maddon According to the Associated Press on Friday“What else can you want? We must do it in a way that is not destructive in some way.”

When will Shohei Ohtani participate in the All-Star Game?

Maybe in the early game. He was selected as the starting DH of the American League. Next, he will go to the bottom of the third or fourth inning after he gets one or two shots.

A complicated issue is that MLB rules stipulate that if a DH or a position player occupies the mound, the team will lose the DH for the remainder of the game. The All-Star Game is another real show, so after Otani leaves the game, what can stop MLB from returning DH to AL?

“In order for him to throw and hit the ball at the same time, you have to relax a little bit, DH rules. I think they are ready to do these things,” Madden said on Friday.

It is doubtful that AL manager Kevin Cash will transfer Ohtani from DH to the outfield and then bring him onto the court in the middle or late game. Oh yes, Otani can also play outfield. He did a lot of things in Japan, where he made his Major League Baseball debut this year. He has played five times with the Angels in the outfield.