Shohei Ohtani left no stone unturned in his first MLB All-Star experience, appearing in Monday night’s Home Run Derby (his first-round clash with Juan Soto came down to a sudden-death “swing off”) before pitching an inning (he was credited with the win) and also logging two at-bats in the following night’s All-Star Game. After collecting $150,000 for his Derby participation, the Japanese phenom graciously donated that entire sum to members of the Angels support staff, dividing his winnings evenly among clubhouse attendants, trainers and media relations representatives, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
While a surprising number of players opted to skip this year’s festivities, Ohtani was burning the candle at both ends, serving as the All-Star Game’s main attraction. Ohtani didn’t quite live up to his No. 1 seed in the Derby, though he didn’t embarrass himself either, rallying from a slow start (he and Angels bullpen catcher Jason Brown weren’t on the same page initially) to force a one-minute tiebreaker with Soto. Six of Ohtani’s 28 homers in the first round traveled in excess of 500 feet.
Ohtani, MLB’s current leader in home runs with 33, has received extensive media coverage this week, fueling a debate on ESPN’s First Take, where panelist Stephen A. Smith was criticized for comments many perceived as xenophobic. “I don’t think it helps that the No. 1 face [of baseball] is a dude that needs an interpreter so you can understand what he’s saying,” said Smith, who later apologized for remarks he acknowledged as “insensitive and regrettable.” The baseball community quickly rallied around Ohtani with several of Smith’s own colleagues at ESPN (Jeff Passan and Joon Lee among them) leaping to the slugger’s defense.
Some were concerned Ohtani, who has battled various injuries throughout his career, may have overdone it at the All-Star Game, though if the 27-year-old was feeling fatigue, he didn’t show it Friday night, contributing a single and two RBI in a loss to Seattle.
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