Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Taishi Ota was announced as the Pacific League winner of the All-Star Series' plus one fan vote a little after 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, making him a first-time All-Star.
His happiness, however, was probably rendered bittersweet by the black cast covering part of his hand.
Ota was forced to decline his spot on the Pa League roster shortly after the results were made public due to a fractured left hand. The outfielder suffered the injury when he was hit by a pitch during the sixth inning of the Fighters' game against the Chiba Lotte Marines on Saturday.