Shohei Ohtani experienced right-biceps tightness while swinging during the Dodgers’ July 3 game against the San Diego Padres. The discomfort appeared after he had completed 6 innings and thrown a season-high 110 pitches, but he said it did not affect him while pitching.
Ohtani also disclosed that he had experienced a similar tightness briefly earlier in the season, which disappeared quickly. Manager Dave Roberts said the earlier episode had not been brought to his attention. The Dodgers held Ohtani out of the July 4 game as a precaution, and he returned to the lineup the following day.
Biceps-tightness timeline
Ohtani said he experienced a brief episode of right-biceps tightness earlier in the 2026 season. The discomfort disappeared quickly, and Roberts said he had not been previously informed of it. Available reporting does not establish exactly when the earlier episode occurred or whether the training staff knew about it.
The tightness returned on July 3 against the Padres. Ohtani had thrown a season-high 110 pitches over 6 innings before feeling discomfort while swinging in the sixth inning. Miguel Rojas replaced him as a pinch hitter in the seventh, and the Dodgers rested Ohtani on July 4 as a precaution.
Why Ohtani chose to stay quiet
Ohtani said the earlier biceps discomfort was brief and disappeared quickly, which helps explain why it did not become a major team concern at the time. When the tightness returned on July 3, he immediately discussed it after the game, and the Dodgers rested him the following day.
Ohtani has said that he generally wants to remain in the lineup when he believes he can play. However, neither he nor the Dodgers has said that he deliberately concealed the earlier discomfort to maintain control or avoid appearing vulnerable.
The 4-time MVP returned to the lineup on July 5 after the precautionary day off.
Roberts takes a cautious approach
Roberts said he had not known about Ohtani’s earlier brief episode of biceps tightness. He described the issue as minor and emphasized that the Dodgers must continue monitoring the physical demands created by Ohtani’s combined pitching and hitting workload.
The team held Ohtani out of the July 4 game and gave him a full day off from baseball activities. Roberts said his concern level was low and expected Ohtani to return to the lineup for the series finale.
The precautionary rest reflected workload management rather than evidence of a breakdown in trust between Ohtani and the coaching staff.
The toll of being a two-way player
No other player pitches and hits at Ohtani’s level today, and that dual workload adds stress to his arm, shoulder, and legs. This season, he posted 8 wins in 14 starts with a 1.79 earned run average. Few bodies could handle that pace.
Beyond the physical grind, the mental load of switching roles daily wears on players, since Ohtani must recover as a hitter while also prepping to pitch days later. That constant shift leaves little room for full rest during a long season. It makes hiding pain easier since duties never pause.
Little-known fact: Ohtani’s high school coach required baseball players to swim as part of training. His swimming coach later said Ohtani was talented enough to have competed at the Olympic level if he had pursued swimming instead of baseball.
A history of elbow trouble
Ohtani’s arm has a long medical history that predates this biceps concern, since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 and a second major elbow procedure in 2023. Doctors reinforced his ligament to protect long-term durability. That past explains why the Dodgers treat every ache seriously.
Despite two elbow surgeries, Ohtani returned stronger each time and kept dominating, proving doctors and trainers could rebuild his arm successfully. That track record gives the Dodgers confidence, yet it also breeds caution around new symptoms. Any small complaint now triggers vivid memories of old and painful past career setbacks.
How the Dodgers are adjusting course
The organization is quietly building depth, so no single player carries too much risk, recently activating reliever Evan Phillips from a long-injured-list stint. They also released left-hander Jake Eder to open a needed roster spot. These moves show the front office thinking beyond a single star player.
Coaches have also shuffled Ohtani’s pitching schedule to align with lighter matchups, and skipping a Saturday game gave him extra recovery time before the holiday series. The team even considered holding him off the mound entirely before the break. These small choices reflect a broader plan to carefully manage risk.
Ohtani reaches 300 home runs as the Dodgers lead MLB
The Dodgers became the first MLB team to reach 60 wins when they improved to 60-32 on July 7. They entered the All-Star break at 61-36, still holding the best record in baseball despite losing their final 3 games before the break.
Also on July 7, Ohtani hit his 300th career major league home run, a leadoff shot against Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen. He became the first Japanese-born MLB player to reach the milestone.
As a high school student, Ohtani created a detailed timeline of personal and professional goals. Widely reproduced entries included winning a World Series and marrying at age 26, along with pitching, award, and international baseball ambitions.
Little-known fact: Before turning professional, Ohtani wrote a detailed life plan outlining milestones for every stage of his life, including winning the World Series, earning MVP awards, getting married at 26, and becoming one of baseball’s greatest players.
Lessons for baseball’s medical culture
Ohtani’s situation is not unique in professional baseball or other demanding sports, as many athletes downplay pain to protect their playing time and public image. That culture can delay proper treatment and increase the risk of bigger injuries later. Teams increasingly need systems that encourage early and honest injury reporting.
For the Dodgers, this moment offers a chance to strengthen communication with their biggest star, since better dialogue could catch small issues before they turn into bigger setbacks. As the stretch run intensifies, transparency may matter as much as talent. Ohtani’s honesty now could shape safer decisions for the future.
TL;DR
- Ohtani disclosed that he had experienced a brief episode of right-biceps tightness earlier in the season. Roberts said he had not known about it.
- The tightness returned while Ohtani was swinging on July 3 after he threw a season-high 110 pitches against the Padres.
- The Dodgers rested him on July 4, and he returned to the lineup on July 5.
- Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 and another right-elbow operation with internal-brace reinforcement in 2023.
- Los Angeles became the first team to reach 60 wins at 60-32 on July 7. The Dodgers entered the All-Star break with MLB’s best record at 61-36.
- Ohtani hit his 300th major league home run on July 7, becoming the first Japanese-born MLB player to reach the milestone.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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