All the players who will participate in the All-Star Game of the Major Leagues have been announced, and Shohei Ohtani of the Angels, who has already been selected as a designated hitter by fan voting, was selected in the pitcher category of the inter-player voting, and was selected in both the pitching category in history. I became the first player.
Yu Darvish pitcher of Padres and Yusei Kikuchi pitcher of Mariners were also selected.
In the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which will be held for the first time in two years due to the influence of the new Corona, the starting fielders have already been selected by fan voting, and on the 4th, the pitchers and the remaining fielders selected by inter-player voting etc. All the combined players have been announced.
Otani was already ranked number one in the fan vote in the American League's designated hitter category, but was also selected in the starting pitcher category for inter-player voting.
In the Major League Baseball All-Star game, which began in 1933, it is the first time in history that a single player has been elected for both throwing and hitting.
In the National League, Padres pitcher Yu Darvish was voted among players, and in the American League, Mariners pitcher Kikuchi was newly selected by the Major League Baseball organization, and three Japanese players were selected, including Otani.
Three Japanese players will be selected in 2014, when the Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish, Masahiro Tanaka, who was in the first year of the Yankees, and Masahiro Tanaka, who declined to participate due to injury, were replaced by Koji Uehara of the Red Sox at that time. It's been seven years since I was selected.
Darvish has been selected for the fifth time in four years, marking a record of 7 wins and 3 losses and an ERA of 2.65, including serving as the opening pitcher this season.
Pitcher Kikuchi is the first to be elected in the third year of the Major League Baseball with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses and an earned run average of 3.18.
The Major League Baseball All-Star game will be played on the 13th of this month, on the 14th of Japan time, in Denver, Colorado, the home of the Rockies, and the day before, there will be a home run competition in which Otani will participate.
NHK plans to broadcast the home run competition on General TV and the All-Star game on BS1.
Otani "Because it's my first time, I want to enjoy it first."
Otani said that he was selected for the All-Star Game in both throwing and hitting for the first time in history, "I want to enjoy it first because it is my first time. There is also a home run competition, so I hope to enjoy it overall."
Regarding being elected along with pitcher Kikuchi, who is also a senior in high school, and pitcher Yu Darvish, who is a senior in Nippon-Ham, "I'm frankly very happy and I think the high school director will be pleased. I haven't played against Darvish yet. I want to play against him. I wish I could make my own swing. "
Darvish "I'm glad if thrown by Otani"
Darvish was the second Japanese player after Ichiro's 10th inning, and the fifth most pitcher in the All-Star Game.
Pitcher Darvish made a comment through the team, saying, "I've had a hellish time in my life for the last few years, so I'm very happy to be selected as an All-Star at the age of 35." He talked about the joy of being elected for the first time in four years.
Regarding the match against Otani, who was originally from the same professional baseball team, Nippon-Ham, and was selected for the first time this time, he said, "I'm the same team, but I'm looking forward to the match because I'm a pitcher who carried the number 11 together in the Fighters. I think it's good, but it's not an all-star that we're doing just for ourselves, so I'm very happy if it's thrown and I hope it will happen. "
Four people, the most in the National League, were selected from the Padres, "There are other people who are not strange at all, so in that sense I think that it is a proof that there are many good players with a very thick team." I put it up.
Kikuchi "Really happy feelings"
Pitcher Kikuchi, who was selected for the first time in the All-Star Game in the third year of the Major League Baseball, said, "I'm really happy. Since I came to the Major League Baseball, I haven't had many results, so the teams and families who supported me at all times. Of course, I wanted to be an All-Star someday, but I couldn't draw honestly before the start of this season, "he said.
Pitcher Kikuchi has been struggling with a total of 8 wins in 2 seasons since the Major League Baseball challenge, but this season he has already won 6 wins, which is the highest number of his own in the season, and from the end of May he has won 5 consecutive wins without losing and a sense of stability. Was outstanding and was the only member of the team to be selected from the Mariners.
Pitcher Kikuchi commented on the journey so far, saying, "When I play baseball, the hard times are overwhelmingly longer. I am most pleased that I was able to grow up with the people who supported me with painful and regrettable feelings. I looked back.
And about being elected with Otani of Angels who is also a junior of Hanamaki Higashi High School in Iwate, "Iwate is more than happy that two people from Iwate can stand on the stage of such a world as an all-star. I hope it will give the children a chance to have a dream that "I can do it too". "
Attention player who may play against Otani by throwing
Otani was selected for the first time in all-star games in two positions. Here is a summary of the National League players who may play against each other by throwing.
The pitchers who are expected to play against "batter Otani" have all the strong skills that represent the major leagues.
First of all, pitcher Jacob DeGrom of Mets. So far, with 7 wins and 2 losses, the ERA is the highest in both leagues, 0.95, which is an amazing number. It is a straight that boasts the fastest speed of 164 km, but the slider that bends sharply from almost the same trajectory as the straight is also super fast with a maximum speed of 153 km, and it is the right arm representing the league that has won the title of the most strikeouts for the second consecutive year.
Next, Padres' Yu Darvish pitcher. As an ace, he has continued to perform steadily so far, such as serving as the opening pitcher for the Padres who transferred from this season. In addition to the fastest straight of 158km, he controlled a variety of changing balls, which are said to have more than 10 types, and last month achieved the fastest strikeout of 1500 in the history of Major League Baseball. It will be interesting to see if the first match against Otani will be realized in the All-Star game.
In addition, Giants pitcher Kevin Guardsman marked an ERA of 1.68 this season, second only to DeGrom pitcher. The fastest straight is 159km, and the split with a big head similar to Otani is the deciding ball. In the match against Otani this season, he had no hits in 3 at bats and 2 strikeouts, and Otani said, "I have never seen a split trajectory, and it was the most amazing pitcher to throw a split." was.
Next are the players who are expected to play against "Pitcher Otani".
First of all, Padres' short, Fernando Tatís Jr. So far, 26 home runs and 18 stolen bases have both been at the top of the league, and they have decided to participate in the first All-Star game with the 1st place in the fan vote. He is a player who has become a "face of the major leagues" in terms of both popularity and ability as early as 22 years old, such as being selected as a package photo in the official game software of this year's major leagues.
Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is also a 23-year-old young slugger who also has running ability. So far this season, he has been competing with Tatís Jr., such as finishing 3rd in the league with 23 home runs and 16 stolen bases.
It has not yet been decided how Otani, who was selected in both categories for the first time in history, will be appointed, but there is no doubt that Otani will be the most noticeable in this all-star game.