Shohei Ohtani has expressed interest in competing in this year's Home Run Derby, but manager Dave Roberts said the event's workload presents a risk during the slugger's rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery.
Ohtani underwent elbow surgery in September 2023 as a member of theand is limited to only hitting this season. He entered Wednesday as the NL leader in home runs and also leads the majors with a .320 batting average.
When asked about the Derby following Tuesday night's 4-3 win over the White Sox, Ohtani said that he has"feelings of wanting to do it" but would need the approval of his doctors and trainers as well as the team. Roberts said that he and Ohtani would have a discussion about the Derby and how it might affect his rehabilitation. He acknowledged that he would ultimately defer to Ohtani.
"I don't ever want to be the guy that says you can't do it, because I wouldn't want to have somebody tell me I couldn't do it," Roberts said."But the surgery adds a different component." Roberts added:"No one can argue that a manager wouldn't want their player to swing as hard as he can for essentially 45 minutes when is supposed to be on a break, right? But the other side is, obviously, he's the biggest star in the game, and it makes more attractive.Ohtani has competed in the Home Run Derby just once in his career, in 2021, when he lost toThis year's Home Run Derby will take place on July 15, one day before the All-Star Game.
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