Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani vowed to deliver his maiden home run in his third All-Star outing on Tuesday night in Seattle, where he will bat second as the designated hitter for the American League but will not pitch.
Ohtani received the most fan votes for AL position players and was picked among 13 AL pitchers by fellow MLB players, getting a two-way nod for the third straight year. The 29-year-old played the dual role in 2021 before opting to solely bat in 2022.
"I'm yet to hit a home run and I want to hit one. I think it will be fun for everyone if I swing aggressively," Ohtani said at a press conference Monday. "It will be just batting, so I want to get my best swings at the plate before anything."
Ohtani, leading the big leagues with 32 homers halfway through the season, is aiming to become the second Japanese player to homer at the All-Star Game after Ichiro Suzuki. The former Seattle Mariners icon hit the showpiece event's first-ever inside-the-park home run as part of his MVP performance in 2007.
Ohtani skipped the Home Run Derby for the second straight year on Monday, stating he prioritized his "conditioning," but spoke of his delight in being part of the festivities.
"It makes me happy however many times I get to come," he said. "I've been selected by fans' votes too and I want to express my gratitude through my performance."
"I wanted to take part (in the Home Run Derby) if I could get the preparation required to put in my best performance, but that wasn't the case. It was an honor to get the offer to compete."
Ohtani, who remained coy regarding the trade deadline and his free agency, will be joined at the All-Star Game by his Japanese compatriot Kodai Senga, the New York Mets rookie right-hander who was a late addition to the National League All-Star roster.
"I was surprised more than anything," Senga said. "I really wasn't expecting to be selected. I couldn't figure out what we were talking about at the start."
Senga could come face to face with Ohtani for the first time in the majors and the 30-year-old welcomed the potential matchup.
"I'll give it everything, whether that ends up in a strikeout or getting hit deep, I'll enjoy whichever way it goes," he said.
