Dylan Hernández: With Shohei Ohtani bowing out, MLB should cancel the home run derby
Published in Baseball
LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball might as well cancel the home run derby.
With Shohei Ohtani saying on Tuesday night that he is unlikely to compete in the annual swing-a-thon, what's the point?
"This time, I think it will move in the direction of me probably not participating," Ohtani said in Japanese.
What a loss for the event, which will be staged on July 15 at Globe Life Field in Texas, one day before the all-star game.
What a loss for baseball.
Ohtani's decision shouldn't be considered a dereliction of duty to promote the sport, however.
This is a sacrifice. This is a calculated wager. This is a recognition of what is at stake.
Ohtani wants to play in the postseason.
"The reason he came to the Dodgers," manager Dave Roberts said, "was to win a championship."
All-Star week isn't baseball's greatest stage.
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