ANAHEIM – Shohei Ohtani, Major League Baseball and the Angels announced recently that Ohtani will compete in the 2021 Home Run Derby on Monday, July 12, 2021 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. Below are notes and information regarding Ohtani’s participation in the event:

• Ohtani will become the first Japanese-born player to participate in the MLB Home Run Derby.

• Ohtani becomes the seventh Angels player to participate in a Home Run Derby, joining:

1. 1986 – Wally Joyner (co-winner)
2. 2001 – Troy Glaus
3. 2003 – Garret Anderson (winner)
4. 2007 – Vladimir Guerrero (winner)
5. 2012 – Mark Trumbo
6. 2015 – Albert Pujols

• The Angels three Home Run Derby championships are tied for second-most all-time (Yankees have four winners).

• Ohtani will become the first player who has made a pitching start during MLB career to participate in a Home Run Derby.

— 10 players who have been in a HR derby have pitched during career (all in traditional “position player pitching” situations). Just one of these players won the Derby.

1. Chris Davis – 2 G (3 IP)
2. Gary Gaetti – 3 G (2.1 IP)
3. Paul O’Neill – 1 G (2 IP)
4. Anthony Rizzo – 2 G (1 IP)
5. Bobby Bonilla – 1 G (1 IP)
6. Jose Canseco – 1 G (1 IP)
7. Michael Cuddyer – 1 G (1 IP)
8. Brian Dozier – 1 G (1 IP)
9. Todd Frazier – 1 G (1 IP) – won 2015 Home Run Derby
10. Nick Swisher – 1 G (1 IP)

• In 2016, Ohtani was the winner of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Home Run Derby before Game 1 of the All-Star Series. The next day, he earned Most Valuable Player honors in Game 2 of the All-Star Series as the DH for the Pacific League.

COURTESY LA ANGELS & MLBpressbox.com