LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani will not participate in the Home Run Derby on July 15, despite the Japanese star ranking second in the major leagues with 27 home runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ohtani has participated in the Derby just once, exiting in the first round of 2021 at Coors Field in Denver. This year’s event will be at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
“I’m in the middle of my rehab, so it won’t feel like I’m going to participate,” he said through a translator Tuesday night.
Ohtani is only hitting, not pitching, this season as he recovers from an elbow ligament injury. He underwent a procedure in September before agreeing to a US$700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December.
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