Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani was selected to pitch and bat at the All-Star game for the third straight year Sunday and celebrated by crushing his MLB lead-extending 31st home run in his team's 5-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ohtani finished fifth among 13 American League pitchers selected by fellow MLB players for the All-Star game in Seattle on July 11. He had already earned his starting spot as a designated hitter after receiving the most fan votes among AL position players announced on June 22.
He has been selected both as a DH and pitcher for the past two years, playing the dual role in 2021 and only batting in 2022. For the second straight year, Ohtani will be the only Japanese player participating in the All-Star game.
"I'm honored," Ohtani, who turns 29 on Wednesday, said in an Angels' statement. "And I'll give it my best in appreciation for those who selected me."
Ohtani has gone 7-3 with a 3.02 ERA this season, placing second in the AL with 127 strikeouts.
On Sunday at the plate, Ohtani struck out twice and flew out to left before scoring the game's final run in the eighth inning, pulling his first homer of the month off Kyle Nelson's 1-2 slider that traveled estimated 454 feet (138 meters) into Angel Stadium's right stand.
Mike Trout hit a first-inning solo shot, and a three-run homer from Mickey Moniak gave the Angels a 4-2 lead in the second before Ohtani closed out the game to snap a four-game skid.
Ohtani is leading the MLB home run race by three, ahead of Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson, who has 28.
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