The 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was, in many ways, a showcase of Shohei Ohtani.

Before the All-Star break, Ohtani had appeared in 84 games, hitting 32 home runs with 70 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. As a pitcher, he had also recorded four wins.

He was selected as the designated hitter through fan voting with 63% of the vote, and was also chosen as a pitcher through the players’ vote—becoming the first player in history to be selected as both a hitter and a pitcher in the All-Star Game.

The day before the game, he participated in the Home Run Derby for the first time. He competed against Juan Soto, who was just 19 years old at the time, but was unfortunately eliminated.

In the game itself, Ohtani started as the leadoff hitter and designated hitter, while also serving as the starting pitcher. Although he did not record a hit, he pitched a scoreless inning and earned the win.

After the game, Ohtani repeatedly described the experience as “fun” and “something I’m grateful for.” While acknowledging that it had become a memorable moment, he added:

“I hadn’t experienced something like this before, so it’s become a great memory. But more than anything, if I can make it to the postseason—the World Series—I think this will be replaced. That’s what I want to aim for.”

Despite the physical demands of competing in the Home Run Derby, pitching, and hitting, Ohtani embraced the opportunity to perform on the biggest stage against the best players. That experience likely fueled his desire to aim even higher.

Source

This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.

Shohei Ohtani Report, p.108