Shohei Ohtani won the first round of All-Star voting, becoming the first National League player to secure a starting spot for the July 14 game. With the highest vote total across Major League Baseball, Ohtani will serve as the designated hitter for the NL squad.
This marks Ohtani’s third All-Star start, following two previous selections with the Los Angeles Angels in the American League. The Japanese star is having an impressive season with standout pitching and hitting, though he has focused solely on batting since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Official results will be announced after the second round concludes, but with his commanding lead, Ohtani is nearly certain to be one of the event’s most popular names this year.