The stage was set for the All-Star Game 2024 in Arlington, Texas. Raising the mega event’s hype a notch higher came the Dodger’s star Shohei Ohtani for the All-Star Red Carpet Show. He was accompanied by his wife Mamiko, who was there for the first time since their marriage disclosure in February. Daunting a brown suit and a white shirt, along with Mamiko Tanaka wearing a white dress, the couple walked the 100-meter carpet laid down in front of the stadium. 

Shohei has always been known for his kind gestures, whether it’s with the media person or his beloved fans. Hence, on the red carpet, despite the temperature hovering at 35 degrees Celsius, he posed for pictures and signed autographs for the fans. Perhaps, this time, Ohtani’s jacket was not as ordinary as he wore in previous All-Star appearances. It was special for him and conveyed a much deeper meaning, visible from his recent pics on social media. 

Shohei Ohtani’s Jacket portrays a different story

Though the Jacket might look ordinary from the inside, the two-way maestro hid something special on the inside. Unveiling his jacket at the Red Carpet, he showed the inner jacket lined with pictures of his dog Decoy, also known as Dekopin. Last year, he revealed his pup’s name but shied away from showing the fur-baby’s face. Probably, he was waiting for the 2024 All-Star Game when he could roll up his new suit and give honor to Decoy. Also, based on the jacket color tone selection, he told MLB Network that his choice was based on his pup’s brown color. 

The 2024 MLB event was his fourth consecutive MLB All-Star Game and the first one in the National League. Even after dealing with the recent elbow injury and inability to pitch, his selection for the All-Star Game is commendable. Looking at his 2024 season numbers, he has smashed 29 home runs, the second-best in the league. Also, he averages .316, along with 69 RBIs and an exceptional 1.036 OPS.

Notably, the previous seasons haven’t gone well for the two-way phenom. In his three All-Star appearances, Shohei Ohtani managed to just hit one in four at-bats. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers star broke those shackles in 2024, crushing a homer and achieving an astonishing All-Star feat in the history of MLB. 

Ohtani smashes his first homer at the All-Star game

Failing to score a homer in any of his All-Star appearances, Shohei Ohtani in 2024 made things happen. Against Tanner Houck of the Boston Red Sox, he launched a massive 400-foot homer straight into the stands. With the home run, he even made a scoreless tie in the third innings of the NL League’s 5-3 loss at the Globe Life Field. 

The two-time American League MVP took just two balls to begin his at-bat. Later, he pounced on the 88.7 mph splitter, allowing the ball to beat the right-center field and land in the stands. However, despite Ohtani’s heroics, the NL lost to the AL by 5-3 in the All-Star Game 2024. Moreover, the humongous home run made Shohei Ohtani the first player in MLB history to achieve a win on the mound.

Ohtani now has a .333/3556/.833 slash line in his nine All-Star plate appearances. Furthermore, his first-ever All-Star Home run was the first by any Dodgers hitter on the big stage. Earlier, Dodgers Mike Piazza took on Cleveland’s Charges Nagy but failed to score a homer in 1996. And if that’s not all, Ohtani has also made history by becoming the first player to start four Midsummer Classics as a core hitter.

Indeed, a player of Ohtani’s caliber breaking his home-run jynx was bound to happen. What do you think of Shohei Ohtani’s performance at the All-Star Game? Let us know in the comments!