Ohtani Gets His Wish To Leadoff And Start On The Mound For All-Star Game

Shohei Ohtani is the main attraction at the 2021 MLB All-Star Game. The Los Angeles Angels pitcher and DH will make history by being the starting pitcher and leadoff hitter for the American League, the half of MLB that ordinarily doesn't allow pitchers to bat.

Major League Baseball had to jump through some hoops in order to permit Ohtani to pull off the double-duty. A rule change by the league will basically allow the AL All-Star squad to treat Ohtani as two different players.

Tampa and All-Star manager Kevin Cash said that MLB had tweaked the rules after much discussion and would treat Ohtani the pitcher and Ohtani the hitter as two players.

Ohtani was voted to the team on the offensive side by fans and to pitch in the game by Cash, hence the two-person drama.

It's a good thing that Major League Baseball tweaked the rules. Fans have wanted to see Ohtani all year, and now they are going to get to see him pitch and hit in the same All-Star Game and make history in the process.







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Matt has been a part of the Cleveland Sports landscape working in the media since 1994 when he graduated from broadcasting school. His coverage beats include the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers. He's written three books, and won the "2020 AP Sports Stringer Lifetime Service Award."