The Los Angeles Dodgers had Shohei Ohtani voted among the 2024 MLB All-Star Game starters on the National League team. Ohtani earned a fourth career All-Star selection as the designated hitter.
It marks a second consecutive season the starting DH for the NL roster came from the Dodgers, with J.D. Martinez holding the honor last year. Martinez became the second Dodgers player to start an All-Star Game at designated hitter. Although when Max Muncy did so in 2021, fans did not yet vote for DH on the NL team.
Ohtani was the leading vote-getter at his position throughout the process and advanced to Phase 2 along with Dodgers teammates Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández.
Betts was pacing NL shortstops in All-Star Game voting but lost a comfortable lead late to Philadelphia Phillies’ Trea Turner, who just edged him with 51%. Betts can’t participate in the 94th Midsummer Classic anyhow due to his fractured left hand.
Hernández also had been on track to be voted an All-Star Game starter but he slipped from third among NL outfielders to fourth. Hernández nevertheless figures to earn a selection when reserves are announced.
Outfield starters are Christian Yelich (Milwaukee Brewers), Jurickson Profar (San Diego Padres) and Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres). Tatis was in fourth place when Phase 2 began, and finished roughly 3,000 votes ahead of Hernández.
Will Smith and Freddie Freeman were in contention to reach Phase 2 as well, but both fell just short. For Freeman, that came due to the rule of a league’s leading vote-getter in the first round automatically receiving a starting spot.
That went to the Phillies’ Bryce Harper, and Freeman therefore did not advance to voting for All-Star Game starters despite placing second.
Smith finished third among NL catchers.
Prior to the final round of All-Star Game voting opening, manager Dave Roberts voiced some disappointment with his perceived lack of participation from Dodgers fans.
Complete 2024 MLB All-Star Game rosters
The entire 2024 MLB All-Star Game rosters for NL and AL will be unveiled on ESPN during a special selection show on Sunday, July 7, beginning at 2:30 p.m. PT.
Ohtani skipping Home Run Derby
A subplot to MLB All-Star Week festivities at Globe Life Field is the Home Run Derby, which Ohtani expressed interest in being a participant for but has since indicated he will likely skip the event.
“There’s been some conversations going on,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton on Tuesday night. “I’m in the middle of my rehab progression, so it doesn’t look like I’ll be participating.”
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
