Shohei Ohtani is not expected to participate in the Home Run Derby, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday, an unsurprising development amid his taxing two-way season.
Already, Roberts had announced that Ohtani — who was selected to his sixth All-Star Game as the National League’s top vote-getter and will be the NL’s starting DH — was unlikely to pitch in the game.
Now, with the four-time MVP nursing recent issues in both his left knee and right bicep, in addition to the increased workload that has come with his first full two-way campaign since 2023, Roberts confirmed that the slugger is not planning to take part in the Derby.
“When you’re Shohei, he understands the responsibility he has,” Roberts said. “So I do think that there’s a middle for what’s best for him [during the All-Star Game], with what potentially could be downside, but also what’s best for the game. So don’t see him in the Home Run Derby. Don’t see him pitching. But I do see him taking an at-bat or two, yes.”
Ohtani has only participated in the Home Run Derby once before, back during his first MVP season in 2021 when he lost in the first round to Juan Soto.
Given his workload this year (he has played in 83 games, with 386 plate appearances and 85 2/3 innings pitched), he never seemed likely to participate this time.
His 19 home runs are also tied for only 20th-most in the majors.
Instead, the Dodgers’ focus with Ohtani lately has been on his health, after he missed a game last month with knee swelling and another last week with discomfort in his bicep.
The good news Tuesday was that Roberts said Ohtani has not reported any further issues with his bicep since returning to the lineup Sunday. He also snapped out of a brief 3-for-19 funk offensively on Monday night by collecting three hits and four RBIs, including his 299th career home run.
With Ohtani’s next scheduled pitching start set for Friday, Roberts said the 32-year-old remains on track for that, too.
“As he goes through the next couple days, if he doesn’t feel great, we’ll pivot, and we’re prepared to pivot,” Roberts said. “But as we sit here, I don’t see that changing.”
His status for the Home Run Derby isn’t likely to change, either.
