Shohei Ohtani in a Home Run Derby at Coors Field? Yes, Please!

Los Angeles Angels' two-way threat Shohei Ohtani was already 'Must Watch TV' this season, now he's confirmed his participation in the HR Derby in the rarified air of Colorado. This should be fun.

Shohei Ohtani will officially compete in this year's Home Run Derby.

Can't. Wait. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/KdLWVFpwa9
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 18, 2021

Ohtani has been raking at the plate (and dealing on the mound) this season. He has an OPS of .969, and trails only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in American League HR with 21. On the mound, he has a 2.70 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings.

He will (not surprisingly) be the first pitcher ever to compete in the Derby.

But this is not Ohtani's first HR Derby rodeo. Five years ago, he won one in the Japanese League, followed, naturally, by winning the All-Star Game MVP honors.

The precedent has been set, as #Angels point out: In 2016, Shohei Ohtani was the winner of the Nippon Professional Baseball Home Run Derby before Game 1 of the All-Star Series. The next day, he earned MVP honors in Game 2 of the All-Star Series as the DH for the Pacific League.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 18, 2021