Shohei Ohtani didn't need to participate in the Home Run Derby to send one into the seats during the MLB All-Star festivities. His three-run homer in the third inning of Tuesday night's All-Star Game put an exclamation point on his claim to the 'best player in baseball' crown.
Red Sox starter Tanner Houck pitched the third inning and allowed a couple base runners to get on ahead of Ohtani. That was his first mistake.
He followed that mistake by getting in a 2-0 hole against the National League MVP favorite. Then he hung a splitter at 89 MPH in the bottom of the zone on the inner half and Ohtani crushed it for a three-run home run that put the NL ahead 3-0.
It was his first ever home run in an All-Star Game.