Home-Run Derby has always had a little love-hate relationship with baseball fans. While on the one hand, it is one of the most entertaining things to watch. But on the other, it can negatively affect a batter’s swing. Usually during a game, a hitter swings maybe a dozen times but in Home-Run Derby that increases to over 50. That has been one of the reasons why many stars have avoided the event (including Aaron Judge this year). But now, even Shohei Ohtani has decided to step down for the sake of his Los Angeles Dodgers future.

Earlier in the week, reports had emerged that Ohtani was trying to convince his team to let him participate in the event. Despite being in the league for over 6 years, the two-way phenom has participated in just one Home-run derby. That was in 2021 and he lost in the first round to the eventual champion Juan Soto. However, now the star has revealed that he won’t be able to make it to the event.

“I’m in the middle of my rehab progression, so it’s not going to look like I’ll be participating,” Shohei Ohtani said about the event (Per AP News). This is coming after there were big speculations regarding Ohtani’s participation. USAToday’s Bob Nightengale had previously said that “ESPN and Baseball officials will be heavily lobbying Shohei Ohtani to participate,” in the event. 

This was partly because the Home-Run Derby is slowly losing big-name players. Though young guns like Gunna Henderson are still participating, the lack of megastars like Ohtani and Aaron Judge could lead to a decline in viewing audience. That has made it obvious why the league wanted Ohtani to participate in this event.

However, while fans might be a little disappointed, one person has breathed a sigh of relief after this news. It’s the Los Angeles Dodgers’ skipper – Dave Roberts.

Dave Roberts explains why it’s important for Shohei Ohtani to not participate this year 

The Home-Run Derby’s negative impact on a hitter’s swing makes it a risky endeavor for anyone. And now, when the Dodgers are so heavily dependent on Ohtani, it becomes doubly risky for them. That’s something that Doc agrees with. “He signed up here to help us win a championship and nothing should get in the way of that,” Roberts said.

“In any other normal situation where he wasn’t rehabbing, I think he would love to participate. I know that it’s weighed heavy on him,” Roberts continued. However, the skipper was clear on one thing – the rehab process cannot be messed with. In any case, Ohtani’s participation risks hurting his progress, it will only make things far more difficult for the team. 

So as it stands, the Home-Run Derby will happen without two of the game’s biggest stars. Still, the fans will at least be able to witness Aaron Judge in the All-Star game. With voting continuing on, Ohtani too could find himself in the All-Star birth soon.