Fans hoping l. a. Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani will pitch and hit within the All-Star Game might get their wish. Angels manager Joe Maddon wants Ohtani to try to do both within the July 13 midsummer classic in Denver and has discussed it with Tampa Bay Rays skipper Kevin Cash, who will manage the American League squad. Maddon said seeing Ohtani do both also as participating within the Home Run Derby on July 12 at Coors Field would attract even non-baseball fans. that’s why he’s advocating showcasing Ohtani the maximum amount possible.
“The maximum participation of Shohei within limits to me is that the right thing to try to,” Maddon said before Friday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. “What else could you most likely won’t? we’ve to try to do it in a manner that’s not getting to be destructive in how. “In order to possess him both pitch and hit, you’ve got to relax a touch, the DH rule. i feel they’re prepared to try to do those sorts of things.” Ohtani was elected to his first All-Star Game by fans Thursday night because of the AL’s starting battery. He remained coy through his translator on what the plans would be for him during the sport.
“I think as players we’re all like just pieces of the puzzle, and it’s all up to the manager, how he’s getting to plan to use me. That’s all I can say for now,” Ohtani said. “It may be a pretty big milestone. I would like the team to win first. As long as I’m performing and helping the team win, I felt love it should come naturally on behalf of me to be selected as an All-Star.” The Japanese two-way sensation leads the majors with 28 home runs and 49 extra-base hits. On the mound, the right-hander is 3-1 in 12 starts with a 3.60 ERA and 83 strikeouts. His .194 opponents’ batting average would rank third within the AL if he had enough innings to qualify.
Ohtani was chosen as AL player of the month for June on Friday, marking the primary time he received the monthly honor. He batted .309 with 13 home runs and 23 RBIs, alongside going 2-0 with 33 strikeouts in five pitching starts. He finished the month by homering in 11 of the last 14 games. Maddon talked to Cash last weekend when l. a. was at Tampa Bay for a three-game series. Maddon said discussions with Cash will continue, with Angel’s head Perry Minasian also having a task. Talks between the All-Star manager and teams are common, especially when it involves the pitching staff and whether anyone is throwing the weekend before the sport.
Ohtani also made his case to Cash with a 453-foot home escape the D-ring in right field at Tropicana Field within the first game of the series on June 25. That was only the 39th ball to succeed in that spot since the park opened in 1998. Before the All-Star Game, Ohtani has more pressing matters — like trying to recover from a troublesome outing in his last pitching start. He was charged with a career-high seven runs in two-thirds of an inning Wednesday against the NY Yankees, his worst start of the year. Ohtani said there hasn’t been a choice on when he would make his next start. If he remains on schedule, it might be Tuesday or Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox.
