"The fans got it right" - Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Shohei Ohtani's 'well deserved' NL All-Star selection in debut season

Two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani is now dominating the National League. Ohtani is invited to the Midseason Classic, scheduled to play on July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

It’s his fourth straight All-Star invitation since 2021. He’s also the only Dodgers player to be named in the All-Star starting lineup from the NL side. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has nothing but praise for Ohtani, who achieved this milestone in his first season in the NL.

“Well, I think it's great for baseball. I think obviously the fans got it right. It's well deserved,” Roberts said on MLB Network Radio.

“Shohei is a different player, certainly, and a unique person. To be able to manage all those expectations and distractions and still perform at a high level, it's truly, it's truly amazing to watch on the day-to-day."

Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers this season. He’s rehabbing from last year’s right elbow surgery and is restricted to taking the mound for at least 2025. However, that doesn’t stop the Japanese two-way phenom from entertaining fans with his other skills.

He focused entirely on contributing to the Dodgers as a designated hitter. Currently, Ohtani leads the NL in runs (70), home runs (27), SLG (.636) and OPS (1.035). His other stats are notable, too, and can increase before the All-Star break.

Shohei Ohtani’s teammates for 2024 All-Star game

Despite being one of the top teams in the National League with a 53-35 record, holding the NL West’s top spot, no other Dodgers players were named in the All-Star starting lineup, except for Shohei Ohtani. He’ll play as the DH for the NL All-Star team.

Bryce Harper (1B), Ketel Marte (2B), Trea Turner (SS) and Alec Bohm (3B) will be the infielders, while Jurickson Profar, Christian Yelich and Fernando Tatis Jr. will be in the outfield department. William Contreras of the Milwaukee Brewers has been selected as the NL All-Star catcher.

For the first time, Ohtani will have these players as his teammates, having previously faced them as opponents. Ironically, he’ll face AL icons like Aaron Judge, Jose Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., with whom he shared last season’s lineup.

The reserve list has yet to be announced. So there’s a chance more Dodgers players like Will Smith, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez could join Ohtani in the All-Star game.