On Wednesday, Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff home run cagainst the Chicago White Sox for the second straight night, extending his RBI streak to a franchise-record 10 consecutive games.
Ohtani hit a full-count cut fastball from Erick Fedde, sending the ball over the right-center field fence for his NL-high 25th home run. The 437-foot course had an exit velocity of 113.9 mph.
Scheduled Shohei Ohtani home run post. pic.twitter.com/UpjusOSnOP
— MLB (@MLB) June 27, 2024
Ohtani could be a top contender in the All-Star Home Run Derby on July 15 at Globe Life Field in Texas. The last time he main evented was in 2021 in Denver, when he lost to Juan Soto in a memorable first-round matchup. After Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the White Sox, Ohtani expressed interest to reporters in a possible return to the Home Run Derby.
“First I have to get an offer. I’m also rehabbing, so I need the doctor’s approval, the coaches’ approval and the team’s approval,” Ohtani said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Of course, I have the feeling of wanting to do it. I think any player would do it. I think it depends on how he aligns with the other parties.”
But Ohtani underwent major elbow surgery in September, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed caution about the idea of Ohtani taking so many repetitive swings as he recovers from the second UCL tear in his six-year career. the MLB.
“On the one hand, him being in the Home Run Derby, clearly it’s great for baseball,” Roberts said. “On the other hand, on the Dodgers manager’s part, you’re trying to be more cautious and appreciate the fact that there’s a lot more swings, a lot more intensity, you know, going through the rehab process for his elbow.
“But for me personally, it’s just ignoring the player and supporting the person, in this case Shohei, in whatever he chooses.”
