If we needed any extra motivation to push for a pitcher’s Home Run Derby in MLB, we just got it from Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani, who pitches regularly and also doubles as a designated hitter, bested a field of Nippon Professional Baseball’s top sluggers to win the league’s annual home run hitting contest.

According to Cut 4, Ohtani won the competition by besting two top hitters in elimination style matchups. First, he outslugged Tetsuto Yamada, a middle infielder who launched 29 homers during the first half, by a 6-5 score. In the finals, he defeated Yuki Yanagita, who has 44 home runs since the beginning of last season, three home runs to two.

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Granted, the derby itself wasn’t nearly as competitive as this year’s record-setting MLB Home Run Derby, but there were obviously capable sluggers involved. And just the idea that a player who pitches regularly won it is pretty cool given the push several top-hitting MLB pitchers have made to get their own derby.

Shohei Ohtani (pictured last November) is one Japan’s premiere baseball talents. (Getty Images) More

Obviously, the circumstances are different. NPB is an entirely different league, and Ohtani is an entirely different athlete. He’s a legitimate two-way player, having hit 331/.444/.631 with 10 home runs over 130 at-bats during the first half. On the hill, he’s been even better, posting a 2.03 ERA with 140 strikeouts over 115 innings.

That is elite level talent that will earn the 22-year-old a big payday should he ever ply his trade in MLB.

For now, let’s just hope his performance provides the necessary inspiration to make an all pitcher Home Run Derby a reality in MLB. Even if Ohtani has set the expectations too high, and even if it were only a one-time event, it would absolutely be epic.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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