As one of the game’s most feared sluggers, Shohei Ohtani’s potential participation in the Home Run Derby is an annual topic of discussion heading into the All-Star break.
But Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts isn’t so sure that would be a good idea this season.
Roberts told reporters Wednesday that he would “probably not” want Ohtani to compete in the derby because of the physical exertion of the event, which would require Ohtani to endure “rounds and rounds” of swings.
He expressed concern that the workload would present a risk because of Ohtani’s rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery.
“For the game, I think it’s great,” Roberts said before Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox. “For the workload part of it, I’d probably not want him to do it.”
Ohtani underwent the elbow surgery last September as a member of the Los Angeles Angels and is limited to only hitting this season. He entered Wednesday as the NL leader in home runs (24) and also leads the majors with a .320 batting average.
When asked about the derby following Tuesday night’s 4-3 win over the White Sox, Ohtani said that he has “feelings of wanting to do it” but would need the approval of his doctors and trainers as well as the team.
Roberts said that he and Ohtani would have a discussion about the derby and how it might affect his rehabilitation. He acknowledged that he would ultimately defer to Ohtani.
“I don’t ever want to be the guy that says you can’t do it, because I wouldn’t want to have somebody tell me I couldn’t do it,” Roberts said. “But the surgery adds a different component.”
Roberts added: “No one can argue that a manager wouldn’t want their player to swing as hard as he can for essentially 45 minutes when [that player] is supposed to be on a break, right? But the other side is, obviously, he’s the biggest star in the game, and it makes [the derby] more attractive.
“So I think whatever he decides, I’ll support it.”
Ohtani has competed in the Home Run Derby just once in his career, in 2021, when he lost to Juan Soto in a memorable swing-off in the first round.
This year’s Home Run Derby will take place on July 15, one day before the All-Star Game.
