7/12/2021

Sixth Angels pitcher to start an All-Star Game

ANAHEIM – Angels RHP Shohei Ohtani has been named the American League’s starting pitcher for the 2021 MLB All-Star Game. He will become the sixth Angels pitcher to start an All-Star Game, joining: Ken McBride (1963), Dean Chance (1964), Nolan Ryan (1979), Mark Langston (1993) and Jered Weaver (2011).

Ohtani would also become the first Angels pitcher to appear in an All-Star Game since Weaver pitched an inning in relief in 2012. The only other Japanese-born pitcher to start an All-Star Game was Hideo Nomo for the National League in 1995.

Ohtani is the first player in MLB history to be named an All-Star as both a position player and a pitcher. He was selected via fan voting as the starting designated hitter for the American League and was also selected as a pitcher via Player Balloting.

In 13 games as a pitcher this season, Ohtani has gone 4-1 with a 3.49 ERA (67 IP – 26 ER), 87 strikeouts and a .195 (46/236) batting average against. He has held opponents to an .080 (6/75) batting average against his splitter this season, which is the best mark in the Majors for any pitch (min. 75 PA ending on the pitch).

Tonight, Ohtani will also participate in the Home Run Derby. He finished the first half leading the Majors in home runs (33), extra-base hits (56), total bases (210) and slugging (.698), ranked second in OPS (1.062), third in RBI (70), tied for fourth in triples (4) and tied for sixth in runs scored (65). He also had 12 stolen bases (T-8th in A.L.). His 33 home runs are the most before the All-Star Break in Angels history and he is the first player in Major League history with 33+ home runs and 12+ stolen bases before the All-Star Break.

With Ohtani also scheduled to hit during the All-Star Game, below are potential pitcher hitting milestones:

• Last pitcher to bat in an All-Star Game: Roy Halladay (A.L.) – 2009
• Last pitcher with a hit in an All-Star Game: Charles Nagy (A.L.) – 1992 (single)
• Last pitcher with an extra-base hit in an All-Star Game: Steve Carlton (N.L.) – 1969 (double)
• Carlton’s double was also the last RBI for a pitcher in an All-Star Game
• No A.L. pitchers have had an extra-base hit in an All-Star Game
• No pitcher has ever hit a home run in an All-Star Game

The 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played tomorrow, July 13, at Coors Field in Denver.

COURTESY MLB MEDIA RELATIONS