Shohei Ohtani has the second-most home runs in Major League Baseball behind Aaron Judge, but the Los Angeles Dodgers star has decided to not participate in the annual Home Run Derby.
“I’m in the middle of my rehab progression, so it’s not going to look like I’ll be participating,” Ohtani said through a translator on Tuesday night.
The two-way phenom is only the designated hitter and not pitching for the Dodgers this season. It’s expected Ohtani will be back on the mound in 2025. But he doesn’t want to risk another potential injury to his elbow that he had surgery on before he signed a massive 10-year deal with LA.
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“In any other normal situation where he wasn’t rehabbing, I think he would love to participate,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I know that it’s weighed heavy on him, but I do think the rehab process is something that ultimately makes him feel better about bowing out.
“… It would just be a real disappointment for not only Shohei, the Dodgers and also the fans if something were to happen during something like that, which is an exhibition essentially,” he later added.
Ohtani has taken part in the Derby just once, exiting in the first round in 2021 at Coors Field in Denver.
In the 2021 Derby, Ohtani set a record for the most homers of at least 500 feet with six. He was the first player to be selected as an All-Star as both a position player and a pitcher, doing so in 2021 and 2022 while with the Los Angeles Angels.
This year’s Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, July 15 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
