Shohei Ohtani has been the story of the 2021 MLB season, so it makes sense that the Angels two-way star will be the focal point of Tuesday’s All-Star Game broadcast on FOX.
Fox executive producer Brad Zager told sports media reporter Richard Deitsch that the plan is to tell Ohtani’s story from as many angles as possible, including a possible in-game interview with Joe Buck and John Smoltz via his translator.
“If you’re going to ask me the general question of what we are looking forward to in this All-Star Game, it’s Ohtani and (San Diego Padres’) Fernando Tatis Jr., right,” Zager said. “This is kind of our focus, making sure that we appreciate everything that’s happened over this first half of the season with this true phenomenon who is doing things that literally we’ve never even thought were possible in baseball.”
Ohtani made the American League All-Star team as both a pitcher and a hitter — the first player in the history of the game to do so.
While Ohtani has been likened to Babe Ruth, the baseball legend stopped pitching to become a full-time hitter. Ohtani, on the other hand, is doing both at a high level.
The 27-year-old leads the majors at the break with 33 home runs and a .698 slugging percentage. As a pitcher, Ohtani has a 3.49 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched over 13 starts this season. He has allowed more than three runs in a start just twice.
Ohtani will also compete in the Home Run Derby on Monday, putting him front and center for the two days’ worth of festivities.
“Obviously, you can’t take your eyes off of Ohtani and look how many people watch his home runs over and over again on social media,” Zager told Deitsch. “Baseball has so many young stars and we want to make sure everybody understands how well baseball is situated for the future as we highlight these amazing players you’ll see on Tuesday.”
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