The fireworks came from the Home Run Derby, which lit up Atlanta’s Truist Park. While Cal Raleigh took the title, talking about homers, and not seeing Shohei Ohtani on the plate feels like something is missing. And to our surprise, it’s not that he didn’t want to play. But he wants MLB to make some changes first.

Shohei Ohtani has already hit 32 home runs this season. And he is also a clear favorite to win the NL MVP award this season (-800 according to Fox Sports). However, he wants the Derby rules to be changed before he accepts the challenge.

In a conversation with Dodgers Nation, Shohei Ohtani was asked about his participation in the Home Run Derby. He responded, “With the current rules, it’s pretty difficult, so for now, I don’t think there’s much of a chance.” He also clarified, “That’s not for me to decide. However, personally, I think there could be limits on the number of pitches, the number of swings, and a focus on flight distance.”

His statements made it clear that he didn’t want to avoid the Derby. All he wants is for the event to become a stage where people can play at their best without any hurdles.

This year at the Home Run Derby, it had three timed rounds with eight sluggers. In Round 1, each player had three minutes, or up to 40 pitches, plus an untimed bonus until they made three “outs,” or non-homers. Any 425-foot blast earned them an extra out. Based on overall home runs, the top four move on to the next round.

In the semifinals and finals, each game lasted either two minutes or 27 pitches. If there was a tie, there were either 60-second swing-offs or three-swing shootouts. But this season, MLB surprised with the tiebreaker rule, and instead, the winner was decided by the distance.

This season, Cal Raleigh and Brent Rooker each hit 17 home runs in the first round. So, MLB used the distance-based tiebreaker. Big Dumer’s longest hit was 470.61 feet, which was just 0.08 feet longer than Rooker’s 470.53. He literally advanced to the semis just by an inch, eventually winning the title.

The distance tiebreaker that led to Raleigh’s victory may reflect Shohei Ohtani’s wishes. But it’s uncertain if MLB will fully adopt this idea.

Beyond the rules of Atlanta’s Derby, Ohtani gave a balanced performance in the Midsummer Classic. He set the tone for an exciting NL start.

From Derby to All-Star hero: Shohei Ohtani’s statement performance

Even without a homer in the Home Run Derby, Shohei Ohtani was noticeable. He directed his energy into hitting the ball hard and running the bases wisely: His bold steal of first base in the All-Star Game 2025. Ohtani, who led off for the NL, hit a crisp single in the first inning, setting the tone and scoring the NL’s first run.

For the fifth year in a row, Shohei Ohtani was picked by fans to be the NL’s DH. He won the most votes with almost 4 million. And his presence wasn’t just for show; he got a bunch of Dodgers players, like Will Smith and Freddie Freeman, to play.

Swing-offs were used to break the tie at the end of the game as the NL and AL were tied 6–6 after nine innings. Ohtani didn’t play there, but his early work in the NL got things going. In the swing off, Kyle Schwarber’s big three-homer gave the NL the memorable win, and made Schwarber 2025 2025 All-Star Game MVP.

So, what was your favorite Shohei Ohtani moment from the All-Star Weekend? And do you want to see him finally swing at the Derby next year?