In Japan, professional baseball is rarely broadcast on terrestrial television anymore, and a decline in the number of players has often been pointed out. The same trend can be seen in the United States.

In 2021, Shohei Ohtani became the first player in history to be selected to the All-Star Game as both a pitcher and a hitter. For Major League Baseball, which was seeking to revive interest in the sport, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

MLB promoted Ohtani on a grand scale, describing him as “the most unique and revolutionary player in the history of baseball.” They produced commercials featuring him and displayed a massive photograph of him at their headquarters in New York.

In response to these expectations, Ohtani agreed to participate in the Home Run Derby. He also accepted the role of starting pitcher in the All-Star Game while batting as the designated hitter.

Under the traditional rules, once a starting pitcher was removed after pitching an inning, he would no longer be able to bat. However, MLB changed the rules so that even after leaving the mound, Ohtani could remain in the game as a hitter.

This adjustment was clearly made for him. Considering that he had already played a full first half of the season, it was not something he had to do.

Yet Ohtani chose to fully commit, responding to expectations from figures such as Kevin Cash, manager of the American League All-Star team, who emphasized that this was exactly what the fans wanted to see.

Watching Ohtani embrace that role, Cash offered the highest praise, saying he was “in awe.”

At that moment, Ohtani was not only performing as a player—he was carrying the future of baseball itself.

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 Major League History, p.289