Why Shohei Ohtani isn't pitching in All-Star game: Dodgers star relegated to one-way duty in Midsummer Classic

The Dodgers are well-represented in this year's All-Star Game.

That shouldn't come as much surprise to those watching their jousts throughout the regular season. The reigning World Series champions enter the midsummer classic with a glistening 58-39 record, 5.5 games better than the Padres, who rank second in the NL West.

Los Angeles features a murderer's row of a lineup and several notable hurlers. Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto all earned laurels for their first-half performances. Then, there was Shohei Ohtani, baseball's most consequential star. Ohtani put forth a wondrous hitting showcase across the opening three months.

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Yet, his artistry at the mound is almost more impressive.

Ohtani has taken part in a handful of pitching appearances over the past few weeks, but he won't get the chance on Tuesday evening in Atlanta. Here's why.

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Why Shohei Ohtani isn't pitching in All-Star Game

Ohtani has done double-duty before in an All-Star Game. In 2021, he led off for the AL before striding onto the mound as the junior circuit's starting pitcher.

That won't be the case this time around. Ohtani will be taking part in the festivities, reprising his role as one of the game's leadoff hitter, albeit for the NL this time around. But he will not be delivering arrows from the bump in this year's All-Star Game.

Ohtani has shined in limited innings thus far, starting five contests while serving as Los Angeles' multi-inning opener. He's surrendered one run across nine innings of work, collecting 10 strikeouts to two walks.

Nearly two years removed from UCL surgery, Ohtani is still working his way back to full fitness on the mound. While Dave Roberts' presence in the NL's dugout inspired hope that the Japanese supernova would get the ball at some point on Tuesday, those aspirations were swiftly dashed in late-June when Roberts confirmed that Ohtani would only be permitted to hit, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.

Ohtani looks as good as ever with the ball in his hand. But he's still got some way to go to return to full-time starting pitching. Roberts' decision, while perhaps unpopular, is a reasonable one.

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