A blister kept Shohei Otani from pitching in the NPB All-Star Series. So the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters' two-way star took part in the festivities as a hitter instead.
Otani put on a show at the plate over the weekend. He participated in home run derbies prior to both games, winning one. During Game 2, he homered and finished with three hits, including a game-tying RBI single in the eighth inning.
"I was chosen (to the All-Star Series) as a pitcher and wanted to show my performance on the mound," Otani said. "But I ended up being used like this, and wanted to just do my job.