Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani has been named to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game as a pitcher and batter for the second consecutive season, MLB announced Sunday.
The 28-year-old Japanese star, named the American League’s Most Valuable Player last year, was the first player in All-Star history to be named to the contest as a pitcher and position player when it happened last year.
This season, Ohtani has smacked 19 home runs as a designated hitter, and as a right-hander on the mound has a 2.44 earned-run average in 14 pitching starts.
Ohtani was last year’s All-Star Game starting and winning pitcher for the American League, as well as the team’s leadoff batter as designated hitter.
Fans voted Ohtani into the game as a designated hitter, while MLB named pitchers and reserves for both the American and National League squads on Sunday.
This year’s MLB All-Star Game will be played July 19 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.