Source: Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani bats against the Chicago White Sox on June 27 in Anaheim, California. (KYODO) | Photo courtesy of © JAPAN Forward

Shohei Ohtani Chosen as an MLB All-Star for the Second Straight Year

Among MLB’s most feared hitters and pitchers, Ohtani will appear in the July 19 game at DH ― and surprise no one if he pitches, too.

Ed Odeven, JAPAN Forward

Fan favorite Shohei Ohtani is back in the American League All-Star lineup for the second consecutive year.

In the second phase of voting, fans picked Ohtani as the AL designated hitter for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, which will be held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 19.

The reigning American League MVP trailed Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez by thousands of votes when the first phase of voting ended. But in head-to-head voting for the second phase, Ohtani snatched 52% of the vote, according to MLB numbers released on Friday, July 8.

Ohtani, who has won his last five starts to raise his record to 8-4, is expected to be named to the AL pitching staff when pitchers and reserves are announced on Sunday, July 10.

As a batter, the reigning AL MVP has 19 home runs, 15 doubles and 54 RBIs through Friday. He’s batting .262 and has 10 stolen bases.

The hard-throwing right hander has made 14 starts and logged 81 innings on the mound. He has 110 strikeouts and has walked 20 batters.