Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels’ two-way sensation, announced Friday that he will participate in next month’s Home Run Derby, becoming the first player to commit to the event.
Ohtani, ranked third in the majors with 19 homers, will join a group of eight players in a timed, bracket-style tournament on July 12 from Coors Field in Denver, where the thin air at high elevation famously produces long homers.
Through the first 11 weeks of the season, Ohtani, 26, is one of only eight qualified hitters with an OPS over .950 and one of only 23 pitchers who has made at least 10 starts and has an ERA under 2.90.
Ohtani has been wowing players with majestic rounds of batting practice ever since he broke into the majors in 2018, and this year his power has risen to another level.