Shohei Ohtani has openly stated that he wants to participate in the Home Run Derby, but his 12 home runs in 49 games this season were not enough to earn him an invitation. Some would say he was snubbed, but the Los Angeles Angels star is not pouting over it.
Ohtani said on Wednesday night that he hopes he will get an invitation once he starts hitting more home runs.
Shohei Ohtani said didn’t receive an invitation to the Home Run Derby. Is it something he’d like to do someday?
"Maybe once I start hitting home runs and become a home run hitter, I'll be able to participate,” Ohtani, who’s hit 34 HR in 153 career games as a hitter, said.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) July 4, 2019
Ohtani has basically played a season’s worth of games now in his MLB career, and he has 34 home runs. While that doesn’t make him Barry Bonds, it is nothing to scoff at, either.
More importantly, few players can provide the type of international draw that Ohtani would bring to an event like the Home Run Derby. There are already plenty of exciting participants this season, but he would have made the field even better. Hopefully MLB smartens up next year.
