PLAY IT SAFE
Shohei Ohtani provides Home Run Derby update as he undergoes injury rehab and MLB fans are left divided
Ohtani tore his UCL last season and is still recovering
SHOHEI Ohtani has announced he will not participate in the Home Run Derby this season.
While Ohtani is clubbing homers during the regular season, he wants to focus on continuing to rehab his throwing arm.
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Ohtani participated in the Derby in 2021 at Coors Field, being defeated in the first round of the event.
This year the All Star festivities are taking place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Ohtani will certainly be there as an All Star for the National League, but he doesn't want to disrupt his progression from Tommy John Surgery for the event.
"I’m in the middle of my rehab progression, so it’s not going to look like I’ll be participating," Ohtani said through a translator.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar underwent the surgery in September before signing his $700 million contract.
He is only hitting this season instead of his typical two-way responsibilities.
Ohtani is setting league on fire, batting .316 with 26 home runs and 62 RBI.
He currently leads the National League in runs scored, home runs, batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS.
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Despite his hitting prowess, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained it made more sense for him to sit out the Derby this year.
"He signed up here to help us win a championship and nothing should get in the way of that," Roberts said.
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"In any other normal situation where he wasn’t rehabbing, I think he would love to participate.
"I know that it’s weighed heavy on him, but I do think the rehab process is something that ultimately makes him feel better about bowing out."
Roberts said the Derby is an outlier in Ohtani's MLB schedule that could derail his rehab process.
"When you’re playing every day alongside the rehab it’s very regimented, so when you have an outlier situation as far as a Home Run Derby, that’s something that one is prepared for," he said.
"It would just be a real disappointment for not only Shohei, the Dodgers and also the fans if something were to happen during something like that, which is an exhibition essentially."
Fans shared disappointment to not see MLB's biggest star teeing off in the Home Run Derby.
Five key MLB rule changes in 2024
1. The pitch clock is reduced from 20 to 18 seconds with runners on base. It will remain at 15 seconds with bases empty.
2. When a pitching change is made, the innings timer will reset to 2:00 rather than 2:15 like it did last year.
3. Teams will only be allowed four mound visits per game in 2024, down from five last season.
4. Fielders and defenders blocking bases will be called for obstruction.
5. The runners' lane from home plate to first base has been widened to include the dirt between the grass and the white line.
"I understand the rationale, but every year that Shohei Ohtani does not participate in the HR Derby is a loss for the event," one fan said.
"I'm bummed he won't be in the derby. i get it though," another fan said.
So far, only Gunnar Henderson has committed to compete in the Derby.
There are still seven spots to fill for the Derby, which will follow a new format this year.
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Previously, the event was a tournament-style bracket in which players would go head to head in three rounds of competition.
This year, all eight players will hit in the first round, and the top four players will move on to a knockout round.
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