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NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani achieved a first in 91 years of baseball’s All-Star Game: selection as both a hitter and pitcher.
The Angels’ two-way sensation was among the American League starting pitchers picked Sunday for the July 13 showcase at Denver’s Coors Field. Ohtani, who leads the majors in home runs, already had been elected by fans to start as the AL’s designated hitter.
The Red Sox have the most All-Stars for the first time since 2009, sending five. Designated hitter J.D. Martinez, starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and reliever Matt Barnes were chosen to join a pair of starters: shortstop Xander Bogaerts and third baseman Rafael Devers.
Ohtani received 121 votes in balloting by players, managers and coaches announced three days after fan-elected starters were revealed.
“The guy’s going to participate in Home Run Derby, pitch in the game and hit in the game. That doesn’t happen, like, ever,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said after speaking with AL skipper Kevin Cash of the Rays. “So this is the one time ... even the non-baseball fan can really latch onto this and become interested.”
Babe Ruth’s pitching days largely were behind him by the time the All-Star Game started in 1933. Ruth made one pitching appearance that year, the final one of his career on the last day of the season. He last pitched with regularity in 1919.
Ohtani is hitting .278 with 31 home runs and 67 RBI. In 12 starts on the mound, he is 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 83 strikeouts over 60 innings.
The Angels did not make Ohtani available to media Sunday, and Major League Baseball has not reopened clubhouses to reporters.
The team released quotes from Ohtani: “It’s my first time so I just want to enjoy everything.
There’s also the Home Run Derby, so I’m looking forward to taking it all in and enjoy everything.”
The right-hander was joined by fellow AL starting pitchers Gerrit Cole of the Yankees (272 votes), and Lance Lynn (199) and Carlos Rodón (192) of the White Sox.
The Indians’ Shane Bieber (189) also was elected but is hurt and will miss the game along with Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who was elected by fans to start, and Nationals outfielder Kyle Schwarber.
Mets ace Jacob deGrom, who has a historically low ERA of 0.95, led National League starting pitchers with 321 votes, followed by the Giants’ Kevin Gausman (210), the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes (153) and Brandon Woodruff (146), and the Padres’ Yu Darvish (105).
“I’m supposed to throw Sunday, so for me I don’t think it’s smart to go pitch in the All-Star Game,” deGrom said. “I’ve been a little beat up this first half and obviously missed a few starts which I wish I wouldn’t have missed, so I don’t think it makes sense for me to throw in it.”
The Yankees’ struggling Aroldis Chapman (160), the White Sox’ Liam Hendriks (159) and Barnes (117) are the AL relievers, and the Cubs’ Craig Kimbrel (208), the Brewers’ Josh Hader (191) and the Padres’ Mark Melancon (107) are in the NL bullpen.
Rays catcher Mike Zunino was elected as an AL reserve along with A’s first baseman Matt Olson, Astros second baseman José Altuve and shortstop Carlos Correa, Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez and outfielders Cedric Mullins of the Orioles, Michael Brantley of the Astros and Adolis Garcia of the Rangers.
MLB’s picks included five pitchers — Eovaldi, the Rangers’ Kyle Gibson, the Mariners’ Yusei Kikuchi, the Astros’ Ryan Pressly and the Tigers’ Gregory Soto, plus Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, Twins DH Nelson Cruz, Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo and Angels first baseman Jared Walsh.
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto was elected as a reserve along with Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy, Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth, Nationals shortstop Trea Turner, Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts and Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds.
MLB added pitchers German Márquez of the host Rockies along with the Cardinals’ Alex Reyes, the Marlins’ Trevor Rogers and the Phillies’ Zack Wheeler, plus Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford, Diamondbacks infielder Eduardo Escobar, Nationals outfielder Juan Soto and Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor.
“THE GUY’S GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN HOME RUN DERBY, PITCH IN THE GAME AND HIT IN THE GAME. THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN, LIKE, EVER.”
JOE MADDON (above), Angels manager, on Shohei Ohtani