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- There has never been a player like Shohei Ohtani.
- What he did at the MLB All-Star Game was historic. He keeps doing that.
- Click HERE for more MLB All-Star highlights!
“Shohei Ohtani is a unicorn.”
“Shohei Ohtani is a super hero.”
“Shohei Ohtani is the next Babe Ruth.”
However you want to say it, Shohei Ohtani is doing things that have literally never done before. Shohei Ohtani is Shohei Ohtani.
All-Star swagger.
The 27-year-old two-way superstar was selected to his first-ever All-Star Game in his fourth MLB season. A native of Japan, he has played in the Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Series multiple times. His 2016 NPB Home Run derby win was crazy.
When Shohei Ohtani won the Homerun Derby in Japan back in 2016
😱😱 he is just so chill 😱😱
https://t.co/yEAMNiAcSg— shobae 大谷翔平 ¹⁷ Ohtani Shohei ¹⁷ 🧘♀️ (@shoheisaveus) July 10, 2021
Ohtani also participated in the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby on Friday and he did insane things again. This was before the Derby even began:
Shohei Ohtani nearly hit a ball completely out of Coors Field (498 feet). The Derby hasn't even started yet. pic.twitter.com/7EvIrkduAF
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) July 12, 2021
Ohtani put on a show but he was upset by Juan Soto in the first round. It took two dramatic tiebreakers, however.
Shohei Ohtani hit one 513 feet in the first round of the Home Run Derby 💣https://t.co/uYKkdsZnR0
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) July 13, 2021
History on the mound and at the dish, again.
When it came to the actual game itself, he made his start for the American League as both the starting pitcher and leadoff hitter. It was a historic moment, as nobody had ever done so before.
“Leading off, the designated hitter and starting pitcher, from the Los Angeles Angels SHOHEI OHTANI”#ShoheiOhtani #AllStarGame pic.twitter.com/5eKq3GlJpQ
— shobae 大谷翔平 ¹⁷ Ohtani Shohei ¹⁷ 🧘♀️ (@shoheisaveus) July 13, 2021
Prior to his start, he was working to become a three-way athlete. Ohtani met Peyton Manning in the locker room and got some pointers on the quarterback throwing motion.
Getting some pointers from Peyton 🔥
Shohei Ohtani to become first Pitcher/Hitter/QB 🤔👀 pic.twitter.com/vS8f6opHtD
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) July 13, 2021
The Angels slugger went 0-2 with two groundouts in the third and first. It didn’t stop him from smiling the whole time.
Does Shohei Ohtani ever stop smiling?? pic.twitter.com/kUXw3Us130
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 14, 2021
On the mound, Ohtani threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the first and then was replaced. He got Fernando Tatís Jr. to fly out as the leadoff man and the exchange before the at-bat was amazing.
This moment between Shohei Ohtani and Fernando Tatis Jr. before facing off against each other is everything! #padres #AllStarGame pic.twitter.com/BdbIJjKzfP
— Allison Edmonds (@aedmondstv) July 14, 2021
Ohtani’s historic night also made him the second Japanese-born pitcher to start the All-Star game since Hideo Nomo in 1995. We are witnessing greatness and if his second half of 2021 is as good as his first, we are in for a treat.
Shohei Ohtani is truly one of a kind. pic.twitter.com/Z5q1oj5NPj
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) July 14, 2021
That man is the face of baseball.