In 2021, Shohei Ohtani made history by being selected to the MLB All-Star Game as both a pitcher and a hitter—the first player ever to do so.

His performance leading up to the event made his selection inevitable: a .279 batting average, 33 home runs, 70 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases.

Major League Baseball fully embraced his uniqueness, promoting him as one of the most revolutionary players in the sport’s history.

Ohtani didn’t just participate—he elevated the entire event.

He agreed to compete in the Home Run Derby, then start as a pitcher in the All-Star Game, and also bat as the designated hitter.

After a long first half of the season, most players would prioritize rest.

But Ohtani chose differently.

“If more people watch the games because of this, that alone makes me happy. It’s good for baseball as a whole.”

His motivation was not personal exposure, nor individual achievement.

It was the growth of the game itself.

And the impact was undeniable.

The Home Run Derby he participated in recorded its highest viewership since 2017.

More people tuned in.

More people watched.

Because of him.

Source

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

SHO-TIME: Shohei Ohtani, the Man Who Changed 120 Years of MLB History, p.295