Shohei Ohtani, the transcendent two-way star for the Los Angeles Dodgers, will be the National League’s starting designated hitter in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 15. This marks his fifth consecutive All-Star start, tying him with David Ortiz for the most ASG starts at DH, and cements his status as the biggest global figure in baseball today (si.com)
- Ohtani received a league-leading 3,967,668 votes, securing the top spot in NL voting and automatically earning home-plate billing (as.com).
- In comparative fan fervor, Aaron Judge led all of MLB with 4,012,983 votes, becoming the AL’s automatic starter (as.com).
- The voting followed MLB’s modernized two-phase system: fans cast wide net ballots in Phase 1 (June 4–26); then the top two in each position—or top six outfielders—entered a runoff from June 30–July 2. The top vote-getter in each league’s position earns automatic starting status (en.wikipedia.org).
- Historic DH streak: Five straight ASG starts at DH—only David Ortiz has matched that (si.com).
- Elite offense: Heading into the break, Ohtani leads the NL with 27 HRs, a 1.017 OPS, 183 OPS+, and tops MLB in runs scored (mlb.com).
- Global icon: His charisma electrifies fan voting globally, helping overcome market-size bias and media attention disparities (reddit.com).
- Two-way marvel: Although he’ll appear as DH in Atlanta, his return to pitching—albeit limited so far post–Tommy John—adds a storyline of resilience and rare versatility (truebluela.com).
- Automatic selections: The modern ASG system grants starters with the most votes in Phase 1—Ohtani and Judge both benefited from this (en.wikipedia.org).
- Ortiz benchmark: David Ortiz held the DH-start record with five—Ohtani’s feat came in just eight seasons, versus Ortiz’s 20 (si.com).
- Staggering consistency: Ohtani has now been selected to five straight ASG starting lineups, dating back to his time in the American League (with the Angels) in 2021–23 (en.wikipedia.org).
- Fan momentum: His popularity helps sustain MLB’s international outreach, especially in Japan and Asia.
- Strategic boosting: Dodgers enjoy roster flexibility—true two-way players are rare commodities. Even if he doesn’t pitch in the ASG, his batting presence is invaluable .
- MVP calculus: With peak offensive numbers and a return to limited pitching, Ohtani looks like a front-runner for a third NL MVP, possibly fourth overall (si.com).
- MLB Network cited him as the “best player” and predicted fans would be “excited … to watch him in Atlanta” (mlb.com).
- Sports Illustrated noted, “This is Ohtani’s fifth consecutive All-Star bid … for receiving the most votes in the National League” (si.com).
- ClutchPoints emphasized the luxury of his achievement: “Will start in the All-Star Game for the fifth consecutive season … tying David Ortiz” (clutchpoints.com).
- Reuters and AP covered the voting trends and Ohtani’s dominance in Phase 1 (mlb.com).
- Phase 2 Balloting (June 30 – July 2): filling out the remaining starters (other infielders, outfielders, catcher).
- Final lineup announcement: Wednesday, July 2 at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN (en.wikipedia.org, mlb.com).
- Pitchers & reserves reveal: Sunday, July 6, selected via player vote and Commissioner’s Office (en.wikipedia.org).
- All-Star Game: Tuesday, July 15 – Ohtani anchors NL’s DH slot. Whether he’ll pitch remains a question.
Expect electric crowds in Atlanta. Ohtani’s presence brings star power, Japanese fan engagement, and plenty of MLB optics. His bat alone can ignite highlight-reel moments—imagine a mid-summer home run—or a showcase of his evolving swing post‑surgery.
