Japanese major leaguer Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim has earned the American League (AL)’s top vote in All-Star fan voting.
“Ohtani will play in the All-Star Game for the third consecutive year,” MLB.com announced on Wednesday.
Ohtani was the AL’s top vote-getter in the first round of 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star voting, with 2,646,307 votes, announced today.
In the one-two punch of Major League Baseball All-Star voting, the top two vote-getters in both leagues in the first round of voting are guaranteed a spot in the All-Star Game without a second round of voting.
Ohtani, the AL designated hitter nominee, also received the most votes to earn a spot in the All-Star Game starting lineup.
“I’m grateful to all the fans who voted for me, and it’s a great honor,” Ohtani said in a statement. “I’ll use this as motivation and continue to do my best on the field.”
Ohtani started the 2021 All-Star Game as the starting pitcher and designated hitter. It was the first time in Major League Baseball history that a player has appeared in the same year’s All-Star Game as both a pitcher and a hitter.
At last year’s All-Star Game, he did not take the mound, only batting.
“Ohtani was a well-deserved AL All-Star selection, as he is coming off another MVP-caliber season,” MLB.com wrote.
Ohtani is 6-3 with a 3.13 ERA as a pitcher this year, while batting .292 with 24 home runs and 58 RBIs. He leads the major leagues in home runs and is tied for first in RBIs.
In the National League (NL), Ronald Acuna Jr. (Atlanta Braves) earned a starting spot in the All-Star Game.
Acuna Jr. topped the NL with 3.026 million votes. He was also first overall in Major League Baseball.
Acuna Jr. will start in the outfield for the NL All-Star team in this year’s All-Star Game.
The top two vote-getters at each position in the first round of voting (six outfielders) will advance to a second round of voting to determine the All-Star Game starters.
Meanwhile, NL Second Baseman of the Year nominee Ha Sung Kim (San Diego Padres) did not make the top two and did not advance to the second round of voting.카지노
Luis Arajes (Miami Marlins) finished first with 1.448 million votes, while A.J. Albies (Atlanta) finished second with 1.357 million votes, and will compete in the second round of voting.
Meanwhile, the All-Star Game will be played on June 12 at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners.