With nagging injuries halting his historic season, Shohei Ohtani lands on the Injured List as the Los Angeles Dodgers prioritize his postseason health.
After months of trying to manage Shohei Ohtani’s various physical issues without removing him from the active roster, the Los Angeles Dodgers have finally placed their two-way superstar on the Injured List.
Fabian Ardaya from The Athletic reported the move after Ohtani missed six of the Dodgers’ last seven games as a batter.
The decision represents a significant change in how Los Angeles is handling a situation that had already put Ohtani’s pitching availability in serious doubt.
Ohtani has been dealing with discomfort involving his right biceps, left knee and neck.
He returned as the designated hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday after missing four consecutive games, going 0-for-3 with a walk in Los Angeles’ 6-3 victory.
That return did not signal the end of his health problems.
With Ohtani having missed six of the last seven games, the Dodgers have decided that continuing to manage the injuries while keeping him active is no longer the best approach.
“I think that if it were a postseason game tomorrow, he would be in the lineup,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“I think that now you’re talking about two weeks, 14 days. I feel that that’s substantial. He’ll be in a much better place than he was today. Is it going to be 100 percent? Probably not. But I do think that with this time that we’re taking now, he’ll be in an adequate spot to finish the season.”
As a two-way player, Ohtani is required to spend 15 days on the Injured List instead of 10. His stint can be backdated to Tuesday, but even then, the earliest he could return would be during the final week of the regular season.
A starting rotation without Ohtani
The move also adds another layer of uncertainty to his pitching situation.
According to SportsNet LA, Ohtani said Monday that he most likely will not pitch again this season.
Roberts also said the Dodgers did not have a timetable for his return to the mound.
Ohtani went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 85.2 innings over 14 starts this season.
His performance had positioned him to become one of Los Angeles’ most important postseason starters.
The Dodgers, however, can no longer plan around that possibility.
They need to organize their October pitching staff around their healthy options and allow starters and relievers to prepare for clearly defined responsibilities.
Ohtani is hitting .277 with 30 home runs, 80 RBIs and a .902 OPS in 130 games.
His recent offensive production had declined while he attempted to play through several physical problems. He was just 4-for-39 (.103) with a double and a triple in his last 10 games.
The Injured List stint gives him an opportunity to focus entirely on recovering instead of repeatedly trying to return to the lineup while his body continues to limit him.
Ohtani’s upside as a hitter
For the Dodgers, getting Ohtani healthy enough to hit remains more important than forcing him to contribute as a two-way player.
His offensive value extends beyond his power.
Ohtani’s bat speed, strength and ability to cover different parts of the strike zone force pitchers to alter their approach.
He can punish mistakes while possessing enough plate discipline to avoid becoming dependent on chasing home runs.
Los Angeles already knows it can win without Ohtani pitching.
He did not take the mound during the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series run while recovering from right elbow surgery.
His bat still gave them one of MLB’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
Ohtani was signed to influence World Series races for years, not to keep playing through multiple injuries when his body needs time to recover.
The Dodgers’ priority has changed.
Before worrying about whether Ohtani can pitch again, they first need to get him healthy enough to stay in the lineup.
