Written with the help of artificial-intelligence tools and checked by automated controls.
This content was machine-translated from the French version.
Shohei Ohtani did not play on July 31. For the first time since July 4, the Japanese player's name was absent from the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup, left to rest during the last game of the series against the Seattle Mariners. Official reason: persistent pain in his left knee that won't subside. In the stands of Dodger Stadium, the absence of a hitter batting .304 with 31 home runs this season does not go unnoticed.
The problem is not new. Ohtani has been dealing with this discomfort since June 11. On July 3, he threw his last game of the season—for now. Since then, the superstar has been limited to the designated hitter role, a situation that is starting to weigh on the California clubhouse. The Dodgers, leading their division by eight games, need their two-way weapon for the playoffs. An Ohtani who only bats is already a major asset. A complete Ohtani is a whole different team.
Since then, the superstar has been limited to the designated hitter role, a situation that is starting to weigh on the California clubhouse.
A knee, a biceps, and questions
Dave Roberts, the Dodgers' manager, acknowledged that the franchise prioritizes "complete healing of the knee before any return to pitching." Translation: Ohtani will not step back on the mound until the inflammation subsides. A lubricating injection was administered to him during the All-Star break, which he actually missed to stay in treatment in Los Angeles. The medical staff monitors every session, every movement, every grimace.
As if that weren't enough, Ohtani revealed on July 29 that he is also suffering from right biceps pain. Two injuries that overlap and complicate an already uncertain picture. Several American media outlets mention internal concern within the Dodgers' management, even though the club remains officially confident about a return to pitching this season. Privately, some members of the technical staff fear a scenario where the Japanese player would have to limit himself to batting until October, or even beyond.
The precarious balance of a phenomenon
Ohtani remains one of the most productive hitters in the National League. His mere presence as DH transforms the Dodgers' lineup. But seeing him confined to half of his arsenal reminds us of the fragility of his profile. In 2023, a second elbow surgery kept him off the field for nearly a year. No one in Los Angeles wants to relive that scenario. The Angels, his former team, had to wait until May 2024 to see him back on the field. At the time, the doubt lasted for months.
The Japanese player is currently in the third season of a record $700 million contract signed in December 2023. The investment is colossal, and every day of unavailability on the mound revives the question of his ability to remain that two-faceted player who redefined modern baseball. In recent MLB history, only Babe Ruth has sustained this dual role with comparable success. The comparison, flattering, also highlights the lack of a reliable precedent for managing such a human machine.
Race against time
No return date for pitching has been announced. Ohtani continues treatments, alternates rest and presence as a hitter, and awaits the medical green light. The Dodgers can bide their time: their division lead affords them that luxury. But time is running out as the playoffs approach, and the game gets tougher there. Pitching rotations shorten, hitters become more aggressive. An Ohtani limited to batting would remain a threat, but a diminished one.
The Japanese player has already proven he knows how to come back from anything. His knee will eventually heal, like his elbow before it. The question is not whether, but when—and in what condition. The Dodgers are playing it close to the vest, Ohtani waits, and the entire National League holds its breath.
