- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,190,818
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
Dodgers' latest Shohei Ohtani update provides encouraging news after injury scare originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
For a brief moment Friday night, Dodgers fans held their breath. Shohei Ohtani had just completed another strong outing on the mound against the San Diego Padres when he unexpectedly disappeared from the lineup before his next scheduled at-bat.
Miguel Rojas emerged as a pinch hitter in Ohtani's place, immediately sparking concern that baseball's biggest star had suffered another injury. Fortunately for Los Angeles, manager Dave Roberts offered a much more encouraging update after the game.
Shohei Ohtani exits after another strong performance
Before the injury concern surfaced, Ohtani looked every bit like the ace the Dodgers envisioned when they signed him. The two-way superstar delivered another quality start, working six innings while allowing three earned runs against one of the National League's toughest opponents.
It continued what's been an outstanding first full pitching season in Dodger blue. Entering Friday, Ohtani owned a sparkling 1.79 ERA with 95 strikeouts across 85 2/3 innings. Although his innings total may limit his chances of winning the National League Cy Young Award, he's firmly established himself as one of baseball's most dominant starters.
And that's only half of the story. At the plate, Ohtani has continued producing at an All-Star level, batting .288 with a .403 on-base percentage, an .927 OPS, 18 home runs and 50 RBIs. His production earned him another National League All-Star starting nod, extending his streak of All-Star selections to six consecutive seasons.
Why Shohei Ohtani left the game
The concern began in the bottom of the seventh inning. When Ohtani's spot in the batting order came around, he never made the walk to the on-deck circle. Instead, Rojas grabbed a bat and hit in his place.
Given Ohtani's importance to the Dodgers, fans immediately feared the worst. After the game, Roberts explained that Ohtani was dealing with discomfort in his biceps, prompting the club to remove him as a precaution.
Dave Roberts offers reassuring update
While any injury involving Ohtani is bound to create headlines, Roberts didn't sound alarmed afterward. According to Dodgers beat reporter Jack Harris, Roberts said the club plans to give Ohtani Saturday off "to be safe" but is not concerned about the severity of the issue.
That's an important distinction. Rather than describing the injury as something that could sideline Ohtani for an extended period, Roberts framed the decision as a precautionary measure designed to prevent a minor issue from becoming something more serious.
For a Dodgers team with championship aspirations, protecting its biggest star in early July is an easy decision.
MORE: Pete Crow-Armstrong is giving Shohei Ohtani something almost nobody else can
What it means moving forward
The immediate expectation is that Ohtani could return Sunday for the series finale against the Padres. The bigger question is whether the biceps issue affects his next scheduled start on the mound.
For now, the Dodgers haven't indicated any changes to his pitching schedule. Given Ohtani's unique workload as both an everyday designated hitter and a starting pitcher, Los Angeles has consistently taken a cautious approach throughout the season.
Friday's decision appears to fit that same philosophy.
Dodgers hoping to avoid a bigger setback
Every time Ohtani leaves a game early, anxiety naturally follows. He's not just the centerpiece of the Dodgers. He's arguably the most valuable player in all of baseball because of his ability to dominate on both sides of the game.
That's why Roberts' postgame comments should come as welcome news. Instead of discussing imaging, injured lists or extended absences, the Dodgers are talking about one planned day off.
Considering how remarkable Ohtani has been this season, both on the mound and in the batter's box, Los Angeles can certainly afford to be cautious. If resting him for one game keeps him healthy for the stretch run, it's a trade the Dodgers would gladly make.
More MLB news:
- Pete Crow-Armstrong is giving Shohei Ohtani something almost nobody else can
- Jordan Walker ends home run drought with long-awaited blast in hometown against Braves
- Sal Stewart just did something no Reds hitter had ever done against baseball's hardest throwers
- Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong secures an elite spot in the midseason player rankingsrodney
Continue reading...
