Angels’ Ohtani makes history with All-Star selection as hitter, pitcher
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NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani achieved a first in the near century history of baseball’s All-Star Game: selection as both a hitter and a pitcher.
The Los Angeles Angels’ two-way sensation was among the American League starting pitchers picked Sunday for the July 13 showcase at Denver’s Coors Field. Ohtani, who leads the majors in home runs, already had been elected by fans to start as the AL’s designated hitter.
Boston has the most All-Stars for the first time since 2009, sending five. Designated hitter J.D. Martinez, starting pitcher 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 All-Stars each.
Ohtani received 121 votes in balloting by players, managers and coaches announced three days after fan-elected starters were revealed.
“The guy’s going to participate in Home Run Derby, pitch in the game and hit in the game. That doesn’t happen like, ever,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said after speaking with AL skipper Kevin Cash of Tampa Bay. “So this is the one time … even the nonbaseball fan can really latch onto this and become interested.”
Babe Ruth’s pitching days were largely behind him by the time the All-Star Game started in 1933. Ruth made one pitching appearance that year, the final one of his career on the last day of the season. He last pitched with regularity in 1919.
Ohtani is hitting .278 with a major league-leading 31 home runs and 67 RBIs. He is 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 83 strikeouts over 60 innings in 12 starts on the mound.
Cleveland’s Shane Bieber also was elected but is hurt and will miss the game along with Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who was elected to start, and Washington outfielder Kyle Schwarber, who was picked as a reserve.
Mets ace Jacob deGrom, who has a historically low ERA of 0.95, led NL starting pitchers with 321 votes. Because he is scheduled to start for the Mets on July 11, deGrom doesn’t plan to pitch in Denver.
Texas’ Adolis Garcia and Miami’s Trevor Rogers are the only rookies among 34 first-time All-Stars. Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the youngest player at 22 years, 3 1/2 months, just ahead of San Diego shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. at 22 years, 6 months and Juan Soto at 22 years, 8 months.
Players born outside the 50 states include seven from the Dominican Republic, five from Venezuela, three from Japan, two from Cuba, and one each from Aruba, Australia, Canada, Curaçao and Puerto Rico.
All-Star rosters
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Elected starters
C: Salvador Perez (KC); 1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)
2B: Marcus Semien (TOR)
3B: Rafael Devers (BOS)
SS: Xander Bogaerts (BOS)
OF: Mike Trout (LAA)
OF: Aaron Judge (NYY)
OF: Teoscar Hernández (TOR)
DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
Pitchers/reserves
Pitcher/Designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani
Starting pitchers
Shane Bieber (CLE); Gerrit Cole (NYY); Nathan Eovaldi (BOS); Kyle Gibson (TEX); Yusei Kikuchi (SEA); Lance Lynn (CWS); Carlos Rodin (CWS)
Relievers
Matt Barnes (BOS); Aroldis Chapman (NYY); Liam Hendriks (CWS); Ryan Pressly (HOU); Gregory Soto (DET)
Reserve infield
Mike Zunino (TB); Jose Altuve (HOU); Bo Bichette (TOR); Carlos Correa (HOU); Matt Olson (OAK)
Jose Ramirez (CLE); Jared Walsh (LAA)
Designated hitter
J.D. Martinez (BOS); Nelson Cruz (MIN)
Reserve outfield
Michael Brantley (HOU); Joey Gallo (TEX); Adolis Garcia (TEX); Cedric Mullins (BAL)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Elected starters
C: Buster Posey (SF)
1B: Freddie Freeman (ATL)
2B: Adam Frazier (PIT)
3B: Nolan Arenado (STL)
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD)
OF: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL)
OF: Nick Castellanos (CIN)
OF: Jesse Winker (CIN)
Pitchers/reserves
Reserve infield
J.T. Realmuto (PHI); Ozzie Albies (ATL); Kris Bryant (CHC); Brandon Crawford (SF); Jake Cronenworth (SD); Eduardo Escobar (ARI); Max Muncy (LAD); Trea Turner (WSH)
Reserve outfield
Mookie Betts (LAD); Bryan Reynolds (PIT); Kyle Schwarber (WSH); Juan Soto (WSH); Chris Taylor (LAD)
Starting pitchers
Corbin Burnes (MIL); Yu Darvish (SD); Jacob deGrom (NYM); Kevin Gausman (SF); German Marquez (COL); Trevor Rogers (MIA); Zack Wheeler (PHI); Brandon Woodruff (MIL)
Relievers
Josh Hader (MIL); Craig Kimbrel (CHC); Mark Melancon (SD); Alex Reyes (STL)