Shohei Ohtani’s Greatest Performances in the MLB All Star Game

• Shohei Ohtani was elected an All-Star for the AL as both a starting pitcher and designated hitter
• The two-way star has now accomplished that feat in each of the past three MLB seasons
• Ohtani put on a show in the last two editions of the Midsummer Classic in Colorado and Los Angeles

Shohei Ohtani grabbed the headlines yet again on Sunday, blasting a league-leading 31st home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Japanese star had another reason to celebrate over the weekend: he was also named an All-Star as a designated hitter and a starting pitcher for a third consecutive season.

As Ohtani heads into another Midsummer Classic, Sports Brief looks at his greatest performances in MLB’s showpiece event.

2021 MLB Home Run Derby

Ohtani was elected as both a starting pitcher and a designated hitter for the first time in the 2021 MLB All-Star Game.

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He added more workload in the Midsummer Classic that year when he joined the Home Run Derby.

He entered the tournament as the odds-on favorite, blasting 33 homers before the All-Star break.

All eyes were on Ohtani as he squared off against Juan Soto in the first round. The two superstars had a duel for the ages, with their first-round matchup needing two extra periods to determine the winner.

Ohtani had a slow start, hitting just five homers in the first 1:40. He rallied, however, hitting 15 home runs in the initial 3-minute period to give himself a chance of advancing.

He tied Soto during the one minute of bonus time allotted to him, blasting seven homers to send their matchup into an extra period.

Nothing could separate the two sluggers in overtime, with Ohtani and Soto hitting six homers apiece.

The Angels star had nothing left in the tank in the second overtime, with Soto beating him 3-0 during that extra period, per CBS Sports.

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2021 MLB All-Star Game

Ohtani continued making history the following day, becoming the first player to ever start an All-Star game on the mound, bat leadoff, and earn the victory in the same outing in National League or American League history.

Ohtani started the game by grounding out sharply to second base on an 0-1 pitch from veteran righty Max Scherzer.

He returned in the bottom half as the starting pitcher for the AL, throwing a 1-2-3 opening inning, with his fastball topping at 100.2 mph.

2022 MLB All-Star Game

Ohtani was named as both a starting pitcher and a DH for the second time in the 2022 MLB All-Star Game.

This time, he begged off from pitching in the Midsummer Classic as he was set to start for the Angels in their first game after the All-Star break.

He also did not participate in the Home Run Derby, declining an invitation to join for the second straight year.

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Ohtani still put on a show in last year’s All-Star game, recording his first-ever hit in the Classic, per Fox Sports.

He made a promise before the start of the game, saying, “First pitch, full swing.”

He did just that, sending Clayton Kershaw’s first-pitch fastball to center field for a leadoff single.

The Dodgers great gained some revenge, though, picking off Ohtani at first base seconds later.

Ohtani returned for a second at-bat in the third inning, drawing a walk against San Diego right-hander Joe Musgrove.

Perfect games in Yankees history

Sports Brief previously reported on the perfect games thrown by Yankees pitchers.

Four Bronx Bombers have now hurled perfect games after Domingo German accomplished the rare feat against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night.

The 30-year-old joined David Wells, David Cone, and Don Larsen on the exclusive list.