For the sixth time in his MLB career, Shohei Ohtani has been selected to the All-Star Game.
While the rest of this year’s All-Star rosters won’t be announced until next week, Ohtani was able to punch his ticket early on Thursday, courtesy of receiving the most overall votes in the initial round of fan balloting.
By garnering more than 3.3 million selections from fans, Ohtani easily outpaced all other National League players, ensuring he will be the starting DH in the Midsummer Classic.
His total was also more than 100,000 greater than Toronto Blue Jays infielder and top American League vote-getter Ernie Clement, who earned the automatic spot in the AL starting lineup.
Ohtani, a four-time MVP, has now been to the All-Star Game in all three of his seasons with the Dodgers, and each of the last six going back to his first MVP season with the Angels in 2021.
The two-way star should have plenty of fellow Dodgers teammates heading with him to Philadelphia, as well.
The club had six other players advance to the second round of voting: catcher Will Smith, first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Max Muncy, shortstop Mookie Betts and outfielders Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández.
They could have a couple pitchers make the team, as well, most notably Yoshinobu Yamamoto and potentially Justin Wrobleski.