LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani will not participate in the Home Run Derby on July 15 even though the Japanese superstar ranks second in the majors with 27 home runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ohtani has made just one appearance in the Derby, bowing out in the first round in 2021 at Coors Field in Denver. This year's event will be held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
“I'm in the middle of my rehab process, so it won't look like I'm going to be participating,” he said through an interpreter Tuesday night.
Ohtani is only hitting, not pitching, this season as he recovers from an elbow ligament injury. He underwent surgery in September before agreeing to a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December.
“He signed here to help us win a championship, and nothing should stop him from doing that,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“In any other normal situation where he wasn't rehabbing, I think he'd love to be involved. I know it's a big burden on him, but I think the rehab process is something that ultimately makes him feel better about retiring,” Roberts said.
Ohtani hit a two-run homer that traveled 433 feet to right-center field in the seventh inning of the Dodgers' 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. He is second behind New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who has a major league-leading 32 homers this season.
Roberts said it was more a case of the Derby interfering with Ohtani's rehab than a concern about him getting injured.
“When you're playing every day along with rehab, everything is very strict, so when you have an atypical situation as far as a Home Run Derby, it's something you're prepared for,” he said. “It would be a real disappointment not only for Shohei, but for the Dodgers and the fans if something were to happen during something like that, which is essentially an exhibition.”
In the 2021 Derby, Ohtani set a record for most home runs of at least 500 feet with six. He was the first player to be selected to the All-Star Game as a position player and a pitcher, doing so in 2021 and 2022 while with the Los Angeles Angels.
“It's not just his responsibility to run the game,” Roberts said. “He does it every day.”
