What Role Will Angels DH/P Shohei Ohtani Play In The Upcoming MLB All-Star Game?

At this point, it's a given that Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani DH/pitcher is going to be a starter for the American League in some capacity in the 2021 MLB All-Star Game.

The question is - what role will Ohtani play in the game?

There's going to be some debate about whether he should hit, pitch or do both. One person who has some say in that decision is Angels manager Joe Maddon.

The Angels manager said Monday that a lot of what Ohtani does in the All-Star Game will have to do with the number of days between pitching starts.

"Just depends on his day," Maddon said.

"It's just an inning, and I know that if he's able to do that, I would have no objections to it. His schedule's been great, the number of innings pitched, how many pitches he's thrown I think is in really good order. I don't see a dramatic spike between now and then. It would just be how he feels and what he thinks about it. I think that would be the way to determine that.

"The fact that he's such an unusual participant, I'd definitely would like to hear what he has to say about it."

Ohtani leads American League designated hitters in All-Star Game fan votes by a wide margin. When it comes to pitching, he's currently 2-1 with a 2.85 ERA. He's put up 68 strikeouts and 28 walks in 47⅓ innings through his first nine starts.

At the plate, he's pounded out 17 homers, good for 5th in the Majors.

Ohtani and the rest of baseball's best will be in Colorado for the All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver on July 13th.