Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani celebrates his go-ahead two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Los Angeles.
12:24 JST, July 4, 2024
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani will not participate in the Home Run Derby on July 15, even though the Japanese superstar ranks second in the majors with 27 home runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ohtani has only competed in the Derby once, being eliminated in the first round at Coors Field in Denver in 2021. This year’s event is at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
I’m in the middle of my rehabilitation process, so it doesn’t look like I’ll be participating, he said through an interpreter on Tuesday evening.
Ohtani is batting only this season, not pitching, as he recovers from an injured elbow ligament. He underwent surgery in September before agreeing to a $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers in December.
He signed up here to help us win a championship and nothing can get in the way of that, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
In any other normal situation where he wasn’t rehabbing, I think he would be happy to participate. I know it’s a big burden on him, but I do think the rehab process will ultimately make him feel better about giving up, Roberts said.
Ohtani hit a two-run shot that traveled 433 feet to right-center in the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. He ranks second behind New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who has a major league-leading 32 homers this season.
Ohtani went 3 for 5 with two runs and two RBI against the D-backs. He is hitting .380 in the leadoff position since Mookie Betts broke his hand on June 16.
According to Roberts, it was more a case of the Derby hindering Ohtani’s rehabilitation than any concern about an injury.
When you’re playing every day in addition to rehab, it’s very regimented, so if you have an outlier situation like a Home Run Derby, that’s something you’re prepared for, he said. “It would just be a real disappointment for not only Shohei, the Dodgers and the fans if something were to happen during something like that, which is essentially an exhibition.”
In the 2021 Derby, Ohtani set a record for most homers of at least 500 feet with six. He was the first player to be selected as an All-Star as both a position player and a pitcher, which he did in 2021 and 2022 while with the Los Angeles Angels.
It’s not just his responsibility to carry the game of baseball, Roberts said. “He does it every day.”
