Shohei Ohtani injury updates: Latest on Dodgers superstar after leaving game vs. Pirates with 'knee inflammation'

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Shohei Ohtani injury updates: Latest on Dodgers superstar after leaving game vs. Pirates with 'knee inflammation' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Very little, it seems, can throw the Dodgers off course this season.

While Kyle Tucker has yet to live up to his mega contract and both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow have spent extended time on the IL, Los Angeles has a commanding NL West lead and entered Thursday only two wins off MLB's best record.

A Shohei Ohtani injury is the rare development that could throw a serious wrench into the Dodgers' season, and the organization is dealing with a scare after the four-time MVP left Thursday's game against the Pirates.

Here's what you need to know about Ohtani's status going forward.

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Shohei Ohtani injury updates​

Ohtani exited against the Pirates with left knee inflammation, the Dodgers announced.

#Dodgers injury updates:

Justin Wrobleski left the game in the 5th with a right hamstring contusion.

Shohei Ohtani, who was just pinch-hit for in the 7th, left the game with left knee inflammation.

— Kirsten Watson (@kirsten_watson) June 12, 2026

When exactly Ohtani started to feel the injury is unclear, and he wasn't known to be hurt until Santiago Espinal pinch-hit for him in the seventh inning. Ohtani wasn't the Dodgers' starting pitcher, but he hit a home run earlier in the night.

Ohtani had his left knee surgically repaired in 2019, though he hasn't had any known issues with the knee since.

With the Dodgers owning a comfortable advantage in the NL West, it wouldn't be surprising to see them play it safe even if Ohtani isn't dealing with any kind of significant injury. Not only is the 31-year-old an elite hitter, but he has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season with a 1.06 ERA across 11 starts.

Ohtani just pitched on Monday, so his next turn in the Dodgers' rotation isn't scheduled to come until at least Sunday with L.A. running out a six-man rotation.

What happened to Shohei Ohtani?​

It isn't clear when Ohtani suffered a knee injury against the Pirates. He came to the plate four times and reached base three times before the Dodgers pinch-hit for him in the seventh inning.

Ohtani has been red hot at the plate of late, batting .439 with three home runs over his last 10 games.

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