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Paul Skenes. Juan Soto. Aaron Judge. Which member of the vaunted Yankees' batting order would lead the deep-as-hell American League lineup to victory against the Pirates' ace-of-all-aces?
Except ... somebody forgot to tell the National League lineup that they were overmatched, and somebody forgot to whisper in Shohei Ohtani's ear that he was supposed to take a backseat this season while he rehabilitated his elbow injury.
As it turns out, much like Ohtani's dog, Skenes/Judge was just a decoy before the real show. Wearing the distinct "black-and-lasers" color combination, Ohtani strode to the dish for his second at-bat of the night in the top of the third inning, facing off against Red Sox ace Tanner Houck. The second runner of the inning had just reached base on an oddly scored Marcus Semien error, setting the table for Ohtani to do what he does best.
That is, make everyone else in the room forget, for just a moment, about all their earthly concerns, as they watch the center piece of the baseball universe demolish a baseball into pure light.
SHOHEI OHTANI #ALLSTARGAME HOMER! pic.twitter.com/Q8QF8nuEbu
— MLB (@MLB) July 17, 2024
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani sends Red Sox ace Tanner Houck's 2-0 pitch into the stratosphere in All-Star Game
And next year, he can start the game on the mound, too.
In accordance with his contract, Ohtani will defer those conversations until 2025, though. For now, his singular focus is on leading the Dodgers to the playoff promised land they've been seeking since 2020, with a number of "excellent regular seasons, incongruous postseasons" in between.
If Ohtani's reaction to the national stage on Tuesday night, in a room full of stars, is anything like the way he plans to handle playoff pressure during his inevitable postseason debut, the Dodgers' playoff run could be lengthy and memorable -- just like the distance of the cowhide Ohtani just sent into the upper reaches of Globe Life Field.
Fitting that this is the venue in which the Dodgers won their 2020 championship, too. Much like Mookie Betts' arrival that season, Ohtani suiting up in Dodger Blue sure does have the potential to change everything.