If Los Angeles Angels two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani wants to take part in the Home Run Derby during the All Star festivities in July, his manager, Mike Scioscia, won't stand in his way.
Scioscia discussed the midsummer event with reporters on Saturday after Ohtani crushed a batting practice home run estimated by the Angels to have traveled 513 feet (156 meters) at Angel Stadium on Friday. With the amount of attention the 23-year-old has gotten this season, he's a logical candidate to take part in the event, which Scioscia will let him do if he wants to.
"That's a player's decision," Scioscia said. "I'm sure there's going to be a lot of things that come into what a player decides, but it's always been the prerogative of a player if he wants to participate in things like that."
Ohtani has hit six home runs in 84 at-bats this season. On the mound, he has a 3.58 ERA in six starts.
The 2018 Home Run Derby will take place at Nationals Park in Washington on July 16, a day before the All-Star Game.
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