Shohei Ohtani just cannot catch a break this season. The two-way superstar had fans worried about his knee, and now a fresh bicep issue has surfaced, too, adding fuel to growing concern in Los Angeles.
As the Dodgers chase a third straight championship, every single update on Ohtani’s body carries enormous weight. His combination of pitching and hitting makes him nearly impossible to replace, so any setback always matters immensely.
Between a sore knee, a tender bicep, and a crowded pitching staff already dealing with setbacks, the Dodgers have plenty on their plate. Ohtani’s health now clearly sits at the center of their championship hopes.
Ohtani opens up about new injury
Shohei Ohtani stunned fans on Tuesday night by admitting his bicep is not fully healthy right now. He linked the issue to his ongoing knee soreness, calling both problems connected and frustrating for the team.
Ohtani spoke through interpreter Will Ireton, saying it’s still up in the air whether he’ll pitch while injured. He noted that timing matters, since the conversation would be different in August or September than in July.
Ohtani has not pitched since early July, and this new bicep revelation adds another layer of uncertainty. Fans hoping for a smooth playoff run now face fresh doubts about his full recovery timeline this season.
Left knee trouble began in June
The left knee soreness first appeared June 11, when Ohtani exited a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates early after suddenly feeling knee inflammation. He returned quickly, but the discomfort never fully disappeared.
Reporter Katie Woo reported “an internal concern” over Ohtani’s lingering left knee soreness within the Dodgers organization, and he later skipped a scheduled bullpen session against the New York Mets, since he wasn’t feeling 100% ready. The Dodgers chose patience over pushing him back too soon.
The Dodgers have since adjusted Ohtani’s throwing program, spacing out bullpen sessions and easing the intensity of certain workouts. Trainers want to make sure the joint stays stable before he returns to the mound.
Bicep tightness adds to worries
Ohtani first felt bicep tightness during a July 3 game against the San Diego Padres, forcing an early exit. He mentioned experiencing something similar months earlier, though it disappeared quickly without much concern back then.
Manager Dave Roberts believes the two injuries might be related, explaining that lower-body compromise can affect upper-body throwing mechanics. The team has kept Ohtani away from throwing activities since a setback in a Philadelphia bullpen session.
This connection between knee and arm health highlights how interconnected pitching mechanics really are for any athlete. A small compensation somewhere in the body can create ripple effects across an entire throwing motion and recovery.
Despite pain, Ohtani’s numbers remain impressive
Despite the injuries, Ohtani has posted brilliant numbers this season, going 8-2 with a stunning 1.79 earned run average across 14 total starts. His strikeout total sits near 95.
As a hitter, Ohtani remains solid, too, batting .282 with 22 home runs and 61 runs batted in. Those numbers would satisfy most players, though they fall short of his own lofty standards.
Because of his limited starts compared to other National League pitchers, Ohtani likely falls out of serious Cy Young contention this year. Still, when healthy enough to pitch, he has looked dominant on the mound.
Knee pain limits his baserunning
Ohtani admitted the knee soreness has made him noticeably hesitant while running the bases, since aggressive movements now feel considerably riskier. This baserunning limitation adds another subtle way the injury affects his overall game performance.
Coaches have reportedly told Ohtani to ease off aggressive extra-base attempts until his knee settles down completely. That shift already stands out on film, with far more cautious reads on balls hit into gaps.
Baserunning speed has long been part of Ohtani’s game, making any restriction there feel like a real loss for Los Angeles. Coaches must now balance their aggressive instincts with the careful protection of their long-term health.
Fun fact: Ohtani also missed the All-Star Game this year specifically to rest and receive treatment for his knee, showing just how seriously the Dodgers are treating this ongoing issue.
The team stays patient with his recovery
The best estimate for Ohtani’s return to pitching sits somewhere in mid-to-late August. Everything depends on how his knee and bicep respond to continued treatment.
Both Ohtani and the Dodgers organization remain focused on winning another championship, so nobody wants him rushed back prematurely this summer. Patience now could mean a healthier, more dominant Ohtani once October baseball finally arrives.
Roberts has stressed flexibility over rigid scheduling, noting the team plans to stay fluid with Ohtani rather than committing to any fixed date. That approach keeps everyone’s expectations realistic heading into the stretch run.
Little-known fact: Ohtani required knee surgery in 2019 for a rare congenital condition called bipartite patella, where two separate kneecap bones never fully fused together during childhood growth.
Dodgers land reinforcements for a wider pitching crisis
Ohtani is not the only Dodgers pitcher who has battled injuries this season, as Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell have also missed significant time. Their absences made Ohtani’s own recovery even more critical for October baseball.
Encouragingly, reports indicate Snell, Glasnow, and closer Edwin Diaz are all progressing well in their individual recovery processes. Their eventual returns should further ease pressure on Ohtani to rush back before he feels ready.
At the trade deadline, the Dodgers acquired two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers, sending outfielder Zyhir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith to Detroit. The addition gives Los Angeles a five-man front-line rotation of Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow and Ohtani once healthy, easing the urgency on Ohtani’s specific return timeline.
TL;DR
- Ohtani revealed his bicep is not 100%, adding to his ongoing left knee soreness.
- The knee issue began on June 11 and has lingered for well over a month.
- The Dodgers have “internal concern” over the knee and won’t rush his return.
- Ohtani is 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts.
- At the plate, he’s hitting .282 with 22 home runs and 61 RBI.
- Knee pain has also limited his aggressiveness on the base paths.
- His pitching return is estimated for mid to late August.
- Glasnow, Snell, and Diaz are working back from their own injuries, and the Dodgers have since added Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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