Shohei Ohtani reached another major milestone on Tuesday, becoming the first Japanese player to hit 300 home runs in MLB. For the Los Angeles Dodgers star, it was a historic number that added to a career already filled with firsts, and it came on a day when the team also had other Dodgers-related news to track around the All-Star picture.
The milestone stood out immediately, but the broader Dodger Score context was tied to the club’s ongoing All-Star roster situation. MLB announced replacements for three NL pitchers on Tuesday, and Dave Roberts continued lobbying for Justin Wrobleski and Tanner Scott to be included among the next additions.
Why Wrobleski’s case stood out
Wrobleski strengthened his case on Tuesday by holding the Colorado Rockies to one run through seven innings, part of a season in which his 2.69 ERA ranked No. 8 among qualified NL pitchers. Roberts said there have been “continual talks” about both Wrobleski and Scott, and explained that he believes Wrobleski has “performed enough to earn that opportunity.”
Roberts also pointed to the Dodgers’ six-man rotation as a factor that can limit opportunities. “We run a six-man rotation, and I just don’t want him to get dinged for not making a couple more starts that he potentially could have had,” Roberts said.
Wrobleski, meanwhile, was honest about the disappointment. “Obviously it’s disappointing,” he said. “You want to be an All-Star.” He added that the goal remains meaningful no matter the year and that the snub is “just more reason to try and keep getting better.”
Scott still in the mix
Roberts also remained firm on Tanner Scott’s case, even after Scott had a rough outing on Monday. “I just think that he’s performed enough to earn that opportunity,” Roberts said, while also calling Scott “one of the elite relievers in the National League.”
That leaves the Dodgers with two separate storylines on the same day: Ohtani making history at the plate, and the club pushing for more representation in the All-Star Game, which is scheduled for next Tuesday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is lined up to start on Saturday, which could also affect availability as the roster picture continues to evolve.
The Dodgers lost to the Colorado Rockies 4-3 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, but Ohtani’s milestone and the All-Star discussions ensured there was still plenty for the team to sort through after the final out.
