Doug Glanville and Tim Kurkjian reflect on ShoheiOhtani's historic achievement of being the first position player and pitcher to be in the All-Star Game. (1:03).NEW YORK -- Shohei Oktani was selected as both a hitter AND a pitcher in baseball's All-Star Game. This is a historic achievement in baseball's near century-old history.Two-way sensation Ohtani from the Los Angeles Angels was one of the American League starting pitchers selected Sunday at Denver's Coors Field for the July 13 showcase. Ohtani, the leading majors player in home runs, was already elected by fans as the AL's designated batter.Five All-Stars were sent by the Boston Red Sox, making them the most All-Stars since 2009. J.D. Martinez, Nathan Eovaldi, the starting pitcher, and Matt Barnes, the reliever were selected to join a pair: Rafael Devers and shortstop Xander Bogaerts.Each team has four All-Stars: The Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Toronto Blue Jays.Three days after the announcement of fan-elected starters, Ohtani received 121 votes from players, managers, and coaches."The guy is going to participate at Home Run Derby, pitch the game, and hit in it." After speaking with Kevin Cash, the Tampa Bay AL skipper, Joe Maddon explained that this doesn't happen often. "So this is it... even a non-baseball fan can latch onto it and become interested."By 1933, the All-Star Game began. Babe Ruth was well past his pitching days. Ruth only made one appearance in the pitching booth that season, his last one on the last day. In 1919, he last pitched regularly.Ohtani's batting average is.278 and includes a league-leading 31 home runs as well as 67 RBIs. He is now 3-1 and has a 3.60 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 60 innings.He was joined by Gerrit Cole, Lance Lynn (199), and Carlos Rodn (192) from the New York Yankees.Shane Bieber (189) from Cleveland was also elected, but he is injured and will miss the game. Mike Trout, an Angels outfielder, was elected to start. Kyle Schwarber (a reserve) was selected by Washington Nationals outfielder Kyle Schwarber.Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets, an ace with a 0.95 ERA, leads NL starting pitchers with 321 votes. He is followed by Kevin Gausman (210) and Corbin Burnes (153) in Milwaukee, Brandon Woodruff (146) and Yu Darvish (105). DeGrom won't pitch in Denver because he will be starting for the Mets July 11.The Yankees' struggling Aroldischapman (160), Chicago’s Liam Hendriks (159), and Barnes (117), are the AL relievers. Chicago's Craig Kimbrel (208), Milwaukee's Josh Hader (191), and San Diego's Mark Melancon (107) are all in the NL bullpen.Tampa Bay catcher Mike Zunino, along with Oakland's first baseman Matt Olson and Houston's second baseman Jos Altuve, was elected an AL reserve. Shortstop Carlos Correa, Cleveland thirdbaseman Jose Ramirez, and outfielders Cedric Mullinas of Baltimore, Michael Brantley from the Astros, and Adolis Garcia, of Texas, were also elected.Major League Baseball picked five pitchers: Eovaldi and Kyle Gibson from Texas, Seattle's Yusei Kidukchi and Ryan Pressly from Houston. Also, Toronto's shortstop Bo Bichette, Minnesota's DH Nelson Cruz and Angels outfielder Jared Walsh were among the picks.J.T., Philadelphia catcher Realmuto was selected as a reserve along with San Diego's second baseman Jake Cronenworth and the Dodgers' first baseman Max Muncy. Washington shortstop Trea Turner, Cubs thirdbaseman Kris Bryant, Cubs shortstop Trea Turner, Cubs shortstop Trea Turn, Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and Mookie Betts, Los Angeles outfielder, and Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh outfielder.MLB has added German Mrquez, a pitcher for the host Rockies, to St. Louis' Alex Reyes and Philadelphia's Trevor Rogers, as well as Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies and San Francisco shortstop Brandon Crawford. Also, Arizona infielder Eduardo Escobar and Juan Soto, and Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor.Garcia and Rogers are both rookies in 34 first-time All-Stars. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto's first baseman, is 22 years and 3 months old. He is just behind San Diego shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., 22 years 6 months, and Juan Soto, 22 years 8 months.Seven players were born in the Dominican Republic, five from Venezuela and three each from Japan and Cuba.
