Shohei Ohtani interested in Home Run Derby return Dodgers noncommitta

delmermollie · Post by **delmermollie** » Tue Nov 18, 2025 1:56 am

On Wednesday, slugger hit a leadoff home run against the for the second straight night, extending his RBI streak to a franchise-record 10 consecutive games. Ohtani connected on a full-count cut fastball from , sending the ball soaring over the fence in right-center for his National League-high 25th homer. The 437-foot drive had a 113.9 mph exit velocity. It was Ohtani's third leadoff homer this season and No. 9 for his career. Ohtani could be one of the top contenders in the All-Star Home Run Derby on July 15 Grae Kessinger Jersey at Globe Life Field in Texas. He last participated in the marquee event in 2021 in Denver, when he lost to in a memorable first-round showdown. After Tuesday's 4-3 win over the White Sox, Ohtani expre sed interest to reporters in a po sible return to the Home Run Derby. "I have to get an offer first. Im also rehabilitating, so I need the doctors approval and the trainers approval and the teams approval," Ohtani said, . "Of course, I have feelings of wanting to do it. I think any player would. I think it depends on how it lines up with the other parts." But Ohtani had major in September, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expre sed caution about the idea of Ohtani taking so many repetitive swings as he heals from the second torn UCL in his six-year career. "The one side of it, for him to be in the Home Run Derby, it's great for baseball, clearly,"Roberts said. "The other side of it, on the manager of the Dodgers side of it, you're trying to be more cautious and appreciating the fact that there's a lot more swings, higher intensity, you know, going through the rehab proce s with his elbow. "But for me, personally, it's just defaulting to the player and supporting Shohei in whatever he chooses." Ohtani also walked in the third and scored from first on 's double to right. He fouled out to third for the first out of the fifth. Before Ohtani's third-inning at-bat, he nearly found himself in a scary situation. sliced a line drive into the Dodgers' dugout. The ball was headed in the direction of Ohtani, who was preparing to take the on-deck circle. Luckily for the superstar, a bat boy was standing in front of him and made a spectacular grab, saving anyone from getting hurt. Ohtani is on a tear in his first season with the Dodgers after agreeing to a . Going into Wednesday's action, the two-time AL MVP was batting .306 (26-for-85) with 10 homers and 22 RBIs in 22 games this month. Ohtani, who turns 30 on July 5, had two hits and two RBIs in the Dodgers' over the White Sox on Tuesday night. He went deep in the first inning against , and then walked and scored in the third. He also hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the fourth. Ohtani moved into the leadoff spot after was sidelined by a . He has driven in 17 runs during his RBI streak. The A sociated Pre s contributed to this report. [Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? .] FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani Jake Meyers Jersey