May 15, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani got the National League off to a great start with a no-doubt-about-it 40o foot home run to right field in the top of the third inning:
“Shohei Ohtani sent a hanging Tanner Houck splitter 400 feet, giving the National League a 3-0 lead in the third inning. That’s his first career All-Star Game home run and — shockingly — the first Dodger homer in the All-Star Game since Mike Piazza in 1996.”
Despite the long gap in the Midsummer Classic, it’s the 12th All-Star Game home run hit by a Dodgers player, per Stathead. The first one was by Brooklyn catcher Mickey Owen back in 1942. Steve Garvey and Mike Piazza are tied for the lead with two All-Star home runs each in their Dodgers’ careers.
Before Tuesday’s game, no Dodgers player had ever driven in more than two runs in an All-Star Game, so Ohtani set a new record there.
This season, Ohtani is hitting .316/.400/.635 with 29 home runs, and also leads the NL in runs scored, extra-base hits, total bases, slugging percentage, and OPS.
