LA Angels: Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani rightfully picked as All-Star starters

The LA Angels were well-represented in the 2021 All-Star Game starting lineup selections last night, penciling both Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani into the AL lineup.

Both players undoubtedly deserved to be selected.

Mike Trout will of course not play in the game, unfortunately, due to his calf injury. Many have issues with Trout being selected (click this link to read me teeing off on them), but that’s pretty delusional and those seem to be miserable people.

Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani made the LA Angels one of just five teams to have multiple All-Star Game starters.

Mike Trout was having a ridiculous season before he was injured, and Shohei Ohtani has been having a ridiculous season since Day 1.

Trout was hitting .333/.466/.624 and posted a 1.090 OPS before he got injured. Those are all career highs.

In those 36 games, he was on pace to score 103 runs (he had scored 23), and was on pace for 36 home runs (he had hit eight).

He hasn’t committed an error in the field in multiple years, and has good wheels too.

He’s the best position player in baseball, and has been the best position player of the last 11 years in this league. He deserved to be selected as an All-Star Game starter for his seventh time.

Ohtani has battled injuries throughout his career, so he hasn’t been able to make an All-Star team yet. He was selected this year, and to start it. This is absolutely no surprise at all.

He is easily the AL MVP up to this point. Ohtani is hitting .277/.360/.685. That ridiculous slugging percentage has him up to an amazing 1.045 OPS.

He leads the MLB with 28 home runs (and the Angels haven’t even hit the halfway mark yet), and has knocked in 63 RBI. He also can fly, and has used that to his advantage on the bases. He’s stolen 11 bags this year.

He’s been the best DH in the MLB this year, and was given that recognition. It’s also worth remembering what Ohtani can do on the mound as well. Ohtani can pitch in the game if the team needs him there.

As the Angels’ Ace, he has a 3.60 ERA this season and has fanned 12.5 batters per nine innings. That K/9 rate is sixth in the Majors among pitchers with at least 12 starts this season.

He truly can do it all, and it’s great that the Angels can be represented by such dominant players come July 13th.