Shohei Ohtani will not participate in the upcoming All-Star Game due to left knee irritation. This marks a significant development as Ohtani has been a consistent presence at the event, earning the honor in each of the past five seasons, with his first start occurring in 2021.
The Dodgers announced that Ohtani was scratched from a recent start and would miss the Midsummer Classic. The team plans for him to continue as a designated hitter until the break, after which he will undergo interventions on his knee to prepare him for the second half of the season. Ohtani has previously experienced knee issues earlier in the current season.
All-Star Replacement and Player Performance
Following Ohtani’s withdrawal, Ivan Herrera, a designated hitter and catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, has been selected as his replacement. This marks Herrera’s first All-Star honor in his MLB career. His selection provides the Cardinals with another representative at the event, reflecting an encouraging first half of the season for the team.
Herrera’s journey to the All-Star Game involved steadily progressing through the Cardinals’ farm system after being signed as an international free agent in 2016. Despite injuries in earlier seasons, he has shown durability and offensive production this season, appearing in all 92 of the Cardinals’ games leading up to a recent Friday. He is batting .249/.384/.395 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs, along with a .384 on-base percentage.
His elite plate discipline, evidenced by 51 walks, has positioned him as one of the National League‘s most effective offensive catchers and designated hitters. Herrera’s performance builds on a trajectory that included hitting .301 in 2024 and a 19-home run season in 2025.
Ohtani, a two-way player, is having a notable season, hitting .290 with a .939 OPS and maintaining a 1.79 ERA as a pitcher among those with 80-plus innings. His OPS is also among the league’s best. He did not pitch in 2024 due to elbow surgery but returned to pitching last year, achieving a 2.87 ERA and 11.9 K/9. In 2024 and 2025 combined, Ohtani hit 99 home runs and led the National League with a 1.025 OPS during that period.
Cardinals Representation and Other Absences
Herrera joins Jordan Walker and Riley O’Brien as Cardinals players heading to Philadelphia for the All-Star Game. Manager Oliver Marmol will also be part of the National League staff. The Cardinals entered the season with expectations of transitioning to a younger core, and players like Walker, Herrera, and rookie JJ Wetherholt have contributed to the team’s competitiveness.
Herrera’s selection is particularly meaningful as it highlights years of development within the organization, overcoming injuries and competition to become a reliable hitter. His ability to contribute both behind the plate and as a designated hitter enhances his overall value.
The absence of Ohtani from the All-Star Game is also compounded by the absence of Aaron Judge, who will miss the game due to a fractured rib that has kept him out since late May. Ohtani’s career achievements include being the only player in MLB history with 300-plus plate appearances and 40-plus innings in six separate seasons.
While Herrera’s selection fills the designated hitter vacancy created by Ohtani’s withdrawal, rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt, who is hitting .267 with 13 home runs and nine stolen bases, was not initially selected for the roster.
The Cardinals have much to celebrate with Herrera’s first All-Star selection, which acknowledges his perseverance and the promising future of the organization’s young core.
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Source: foxnews.com
