【Yanagi Times】Yanagihara Naoyuki, who has been covering Ohtani since December 2013, tracking his journey from The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters to the major leagues and also often appears on Japanese information programs, delves into Ohtani's fourth All-Star appearance in his serial column for the Yanagi Times.

In the All-Star Game on the 16th, Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the third inning, marking his first home run in the All-Star Game. He became the second Japanese player to achieve this feat since Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners) in 2007, who had an inside-the-park home run, and the first to clear the fences. Having been the winning pitcher in his debut year of 2021, Ohtani is the first in the 94-year history of the All-Star Game to record both a win as a pitcher and a home run.

This year marked Ohtani's fourth consecutive All-Star selection, and his first in the NL. In a press conference after the game, when asked, "Who was the most surprising player you encountered in the NL clubhouse?" Ohtani responded, "Practicing in the cage with Harper and seeing what kind of exercises he does before the game was incredibly enlightening." It was rare for Ohtani to voluntarily mention a specific player's name, perhaps a sign of his fourth-year composure or a truly memorable impression.

Harper, making his eighth selection at the age of 31, returned to the All-Star Game for the first time in six years due to injuries. His first performance alongside Ohtani, who won the MVP in the AL and NL in 2021, was a highlight. During a 2017 camp, ahead of his major league challenge, Ohtani mentioned in an MLB official site interview that he "likes watching Harper bat." Harper, informed of this comment, happily responded, "I also love his batting. The way his bat pierces through the ball is impressive."

The collaboration, not just in the game but also in practice, was touching. After the game, Harper said, "Yelich, Turner, Ohtani, and I were discussing things like where to set your hands when holding the bat. Ohtani's attitude towards listening to advice is why he's so successful."

This was also my fourth consecutive All-Star Game appearance. Compared to 2021, under the COVID-19 pandemic when I was still finding my footing, Initially, I felt I had grasped the essence of the All-Star Game, yet I realized there was more to learn. At Ohtani's press conference that day, I had to quickly change my question about Harper because it was asked right before me. I ended up asking, "Does hitting a home run, as expected, boost your confidence, and do you think it will change anything for you internally?" My question was somewhat unfocused, leading to a fellow journalist teasing me for its lack of coherence. Like Ohtani, I aim to continue improving with a humble and diligent attitude.