NEW YORK – Japan’s Shohei Ohtani became the first player in nearly 100 years of All-Star Game history to be selected as a hitter and pitcher.
The Los Angeles Angels sensation was among the American League starters selected Sunday for the All-Star Game, which will take place July 13 at Coors Field in Denver. Ohtani, who leads the majors in home runs, had previously been chosen by fans to start as the AL designated hitter.
For the first time since 2009, Boston has the most players for the All-Star Game, with five. Designated hitter JD Martinez, starter Nathan Eovaldi and reliever Matt Barnes were chosen to join a pair of starters: shortstop Xander Bogaerts and third baseman Rafael Devers.
Houston and Toronto have four each.
Ohtani received 121 votes on the ballot for players, managers and coaches announced three days after the fan-chosen starting lineup was revealed.
“This kid is going to be in the Home Run Derby, pitching in the game and hitting in the game. That’s never happened,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said after speaking with Los Angeles manager Kevin Cash. Tampa Bay Rays and who will lead the American League team. “So this is the time … even a non-baseball fan can be interested in this.”
Ohtani is batting .278 and leads the majors with 31 home runs and 67 RBIs. He is 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 60 innings and 12 starts.
The right-hander is joined by starters Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees (272 votes), and Lance Lynn (199) and Carlos Rodón (192) of the Chicago White Sox.
Cleveland’s Shane Bieber (189 votes) was also selected, but is injured and will miss the All-Star Game, as was Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who had been selected as the starter, and Washington outfielder. Kyle Schwarber, who was among the alternates.
Mets ace Jacob deGrom, who posted a historically low 0.95 ERA, leads the NL starting team with 321 votes, followed by San Francisco’s Kevin Gausman (210); Corbin Burnes (153) and Brandon Woodruff (146), of Milwaukee; and Yu Darvish (105), of San Diego. Because he is scheduled to start for the Mets on July 11, deGrom does not plan to pitch in Denver.
Cuban Aroldis Chapman (160), who is not having a good time with the Yankees; Liam Hendriks (159) of the White Sox; and Barnes (117) are the AL relievers, and Craig Kimbrel (208) are the Cubs; Josh Hader (191), of Milwaukee; Mark Melancon (107) of San Diego makes up the NL bullpen.
The AL backups are Tampa Bay catcher Mike Zunino, Oakland first baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Jose Altuve and shortstop Carlos Correa, both from Houston; Cleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez and outfielders Cedric Mullins of Baltimore, Michael Brantley of the Astros and Adolis Garcia of Texas.
Those chosen by the Major Leagues, which guarantees the participation of at least one player from each team, are five pitchers – Eovaldi, Kyle Gibson of Texas, Yusei Kikuchi of Seattle, Ryan Pressly of Houston and Gregory Soto of Detroit, in addition to shortstop from Toronto. Bo Bichette, Minnesota designated hitter Nelson Cruz, Texas outfielder Joey Gallo and Angels first baseman Jared Walsh.
Philadelphia catcher JT Realmuto was selected as a backup, as was Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy, San Diego second baseman Jake Cronenworth, Washington shortstop Trea Turner, Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, outfielder Dodgers Mookie Betts and Pittsburgh outfielder Bryan Reynolds.
MLB added pitchers Germán Márquez from host Rockies, along with Álex Reyes from San Luis, Trevor Rogers from Miami and Zack Wheeler from Philadelphia, plus Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies, San Francisco shortstop Brandon Crawford, infielder from Arizona Eduardo Escobar, Washington outfielder Juan Soto and Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor.
Garcia and Rogers are the only rookies among the 34 players making the All-Star Game for the first time. Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the youngest player at 22 years, three and a half months, slightly less than San Diego shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., at 22 years and six months, and Juan Soto at 22. years and eight months.
Among the players born outside the 50 states that make up the United States are seven from the Dominican Republic, five from Venezuela, three from Japan, two from Cuba, and one each from the countries of Aruba, Australia, Canada, Curaçao and Puerto Rico.
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