Ohtani’s Injury: A Major Blow to Dodgers’ World Series Aspirations

Ohtani’s Injury: A Major Blow to Dodgers’ World Series Aspirations. In the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers hold a 2-0 lead over the New York Yankees, but the mood is far from celebratory. A pivotal moment came during Game 2 when Shohei Ohtani attempted to steal second base in the seventh inning and fell to the ground in pain. He left the field favoring his left shoulder, casting a shadow over the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory.

Teoscar Hernandez, who contributed to the win with a home run, described the atmosphere in the dugout and stadium as somber. “It went silent,” he recalled, highlighting Ohtani’s importance to the team. Manager Dave Roberts later confirmed that Ohtani suffered a subluxation of the shoulder, indicating a partial dislocation. The team’s focus now shifts to Ohtani’s health as they continue their championship pursuit.

Ohtani’s Injury: A Pivotal Moment for Dodgers in World Series

Manager Dave Roberts announced that Shohei Ohtani will undergo an MRI on Sunday, the day off before Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. His status for that game and the rest of the series remains uncertain. “We’ll know more in the next couple of days,” Roberts said, noting that while Ohtani’s strength and range of motion were encouraging, they wouldn’t speculate until they had the scan results.

After the game, the Dodgers flew to New York, and Ohtani was unavailable for comments. He is one of two high-profile Japanese free agents the Dodgers signed this offseason, along with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani’s contract is a staggering 10 years for $700 million, with $680 million deferred, while Yamamoto signed for 12 years at $325 million.

Yamamoto played a crucial role in Game 2, pitching into the seventh inning and allowing only one run on a single hit, a home run by Juan Soto. He retired 11 consecutive batters before being pulled after Giancarlo Stanton’s pop-out. This outing marked his longest since June 7, and Roberts viewed it as a positive step in rebuilding his performance after a shoulder injury.

As the game progressed to the bottom of the seventh with the Dodgers leading 4-1, reliever Clay Holmes struck out Miguel Rojas and then walked Ohtani. In a surprising move, Ohtani attempted to steal second base on the first pitch to Mookie Betts, which ultimately led to his injury.

Ohtani’s Injury: Ohtani’s Setback: Dodgers Manager Remains Optimistic for World Series

Shohei Ohtani, the first player in MLB history to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, has not stolen a base during the postseason. His injury occurred during a steal attempt when he slid awkwardly and tried to brace himself, resulting in his left shoulder popping out of joint.

When asked if the attempt was risky, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts defended Ohtani, stating that he has a “perpetual green light” to steal bases. “He’s a pretty astute baserunner,” Roberts explained. “He was trying to tack on another run in a World Series game. It was the right play, but sometimes baseball happens.”

Ohtani’s career has been marred by injuries, including ankle issues, knee surgery, and two Tommy John surgeries on his right elbow. He underwent the second surgery this past offseason and has been focused on rehabilitating his pitching arm with plans to return to the mound next spring.

The Dodgers have faced multiple injuries to key players throughout the season, but Ohtani, serving as the designated hitter, had remained healthy until now. He played a career-high 159 regular season games and has participated in all 13 playoff games so far.

Roberts was questioned about the possibility of playing the rest of the World Series without Ohtani, acknowledging the impact it would have on both the Dodgers and MLB’s international appeal. He remained hopeful, stating, “I expect him to be there. I’m expecting him to be in the lineup.”