Shohei Ohtani became a two-way All-Star for the third straight year when he was selected to the American League pitching team on Sunday, and eight Atlanta Braves were selected for the July 11 game in Seattle – the most of any team since 2012.
Ohtani was elected to the pitching staff by the players 10 days after fans voted him to start at designated hitter. Ohtani appeared on the most ballots among AL players. He is the only two-way All-Star in major league history.
‘He is very respectful. He doesn’t talk much,’ AL manager Dusty Baker of Houston said. “He comes to play, and he really handles notoriety and publicity with humility and greatness.”
In the 2021 game in Denver, Ohtani fell short against Max Scherzer and Corbin Burnes, and threw a perfect first inning, putting out Fernando Tatis Jr. on a flyout and Max Muncy and Nolan Arenado on groundouts.
Last year at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani scored a single on Clayton Kershaw’s first pitch of the game and walked against Joe Musgrove. Ohtani did not throw.
Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Angels superstar Ohtani became All-Star for the third year in a row
Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., shortstop Orlando Arcia and wide receiver Sean Murphy were voted into the National League starting lineup by fans. They will be joined by five player-elected Braves teammates: starting pitchers Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder, first baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Ozzie Albies and third baseman Austin Riley.
Atlanta leads the major leagues 56-27 after winning 23 of its last 26 games.
“Having eight guys is awesome,” Riley said.
The field includes the entire infield starting in Atlanta, a proud achievement for Braves coach Ron Washington.
“Washington said it was probably the most emotional day of his career because all of his infielders went to the All-Star Game,” Albies said.
The previous team with eight All-Stars was the 2012 Texas Rangers. It was the first time a Newfoundland club had eight picks since the Chicago Cubs in 2008.
Atlanta is the first club with six players since Boston in 2008.
Texas has six All-Stars this year and the Dodgers have five.
Arizona rookie outfielder Corbin Carroll, a Seattle native elected to start, is the youngest All-Star at 22. Dodgers designated hitter JD Martinez is the oldest at 35.
Ronald Acuna Jr voted into National League starting lineup by fans
Twenty-six players are first-time All-Stars. Angels center fielder Mike Trout has the most All-Star selections with 11, making his 10th trip as a starter.
Starting pitchers Zac Gallen, Kershaw and Marcus Stroman were also elected to the NL staff along with relievers Alexis Díaz, Camilo Doval and Josh Hader.
Player-voted NL reserves included wide receiver Will Smith, shortstop Dansby Swanson, outfielders Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Nick Castellanos, and designated hitter Jorge Soler.
MLB had six NL picks, using five for players from teams still without All-Stars: pitchers Josiah Gray, Mitch Keller, Justin Steele and Devin Williams as well as first baseman Pete Alonso and catcher Elias Diaz.
Starting pitchers Gerrit Cole, Nathan Eovaldi, Sonny Gray and Shane McClanahan were voted by the AL staff players along with Ohtani. The relievers elected by the other players were Felix Bautista, Yennier Cano and Emmanuel Clase.
Player-elected AL reserves included catcher Adley Rutschman, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., second baseman Whit Merrifield, shortstop Bo Bichette, third baseman José Ramírez and outfielders Yordan Alvarez, Adolis García and Austin Hays, and designated hitter Brent Rooker.
“There’s a really cool photo of me hitting a Shohei home run in Anaheim, and I’m going to approach it very humbly and try to get it signed,” rooker said. “It’s something I wish I had forever. If there’s anyone who doubts he’s the greatest baseball player ever, I don’t really know why. He might be in the news. of all the papers every day and we wouldn’t talk enough about what he does from an offensive and pitching perspective.
MLB used five of its seven AL picks for players whose teams weren’t already represented, selecting Luis Castillo from the host Mariners along with fellow pitchers Kevin Gausman, Kenley Jansen, Michael Lorenzen and Framber Valdez, as well as catcher Salvador Perez and outfielder Luis Robert Jr.
Dusty Baker will lead the American League team and heaped praise on Ohtani this week
Seattle outfielder and hometown favorite Julio Rodríguez has been omitted, although AL injury replacements will likely be selected for Alvarez and Aaron Judge. Rodríguez has already committed to participate in the Home Run Derby.
Other notable players quit despite excellent numbers, including Tatis, Rays shortstop Wander Franco and Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.
Keller, a 27-year-old right-hander from Pittsburgh, became an All-Star in his fifth season. Two years ago he was a pitcher for Triple-A Indianapolis at All-Star Game time and last year he was demoted to the bullpen for two weeks in May.
“The fact that they’ve trusted me the most for the past two or three years, that’s really cool and everyone sticking with me and showing me their support and giving me their love, that’s awesome,” said Keller about his Pirates teammates.