Shohei Ohtani announced on Instagram he will participate in the 2021 Home Run Derby, which will take place at Coors Field on July 12. The 26-year-old is almost certain to be selected to represent the American League in the following night’s All-Star Game as well.
Ohtani has hit 19 home runs this season, which trails only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatís Jr. (22 apiece). The Angels two-way star is slugging .615, a fifth-place mark among those with at least 100 plate appearances (behind Tatís and Guerrero, teammate Mike Trout, and Jesse Winker). Ohtani has flashed some of the game’s best raw power, with only Franchy Cordero, Giancarlo Stanton, Guerrero, and Mike Zunino having harder-hit homers than Ohtani’s 117 MPH blast off Rangers reliever Brett de Geus on May 25 (video from Baseball Savant).
Ohtani is the first player to commit to the event. MLBTR will update this post with the names of additional entrants when they’re known.