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Ohtani to Play in Playoffs Despite Injuries
Confirmed
In Short: Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers' two-way star, said he will have to 'manage' his injuries during the playoffs, as he won't be fully healthy.
Ohtani, 32, has been dealing with a left knee and right bicep injury that have compromised his performance since July.
Ohtani returned for five regular-season games but was inconsistent, with an encouraging stretch against the Padres and a poor one against the Giants.
During the bye week, Ohtani took batting practice on the field multiple times, a rarity for him, and hit balls nearly to the outfield scoreboards.
Manager Dave Roberts said he is hopeful Ohtani will play well but acknowledged he is unsure about the extent of Ohtani's contributions.
Ohtani insisted his ailments had 'gotten much better' and that the past few days had been 'productive' for his swing.
Ohtani described his injuries as something he will have to continue to manage during the playoffs, unsure if further treatment will be needed in the offseason.
Ohtani’s injuries have already robbed him of his two-way role this October, limiting him to hitting-only duties since early July.
On Monday, Ohtani returned to the lineup but went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, showing that his swing is still not where he and the team would like it to be.
What this adds
Ohtani's return to the lineup on Monday was a reminder that there is still much work left to be done before he looks right at the plate.
The Dodgers could move Ohtani to the injured list before the end of the season, as he has missed six of the team's last seven games due to his injuries.
What's confirmed
- Ohtani, 32, has been dealing with a left knee and right bicep injury that have compromised his performance since July.
- Ohtani returned for five regular-season games but was inconsistent, with an encouraging stretch against the Padres and a poor one against the Giants.
- During the bye week, Ohtani took batting practice on the field multiple times, a rarity for him, and hit balls nearly to the outfield scoreboards.
- Manager Dave Roberts said he is hopeful Ohtani will play well but acknowledged he is unsure about the extent of Ohtani's contributions.
- Ohtani insisted his ailments had 'gotten much better' and that the past few days had been 'productive' for his swing.
- Ohtani described his injuries as something he will have to continue to manage during the playoffs, unsure if further treatment will be needed in the offseason.
- Ohtani’s injuries have already robbed him of his two-way role this October, limiting him to hitting-only duties since early July.
- On Monday, Ohtani returned to the lineup but went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, showing that his swing is still not where he and the team would like it to be.
What's still developing
- Dodgers ' two-way star Shohei Ohtani called the past few days "very productive" and believes his swing is "in a better place" heading into a National League Division Series showdown against the Atlanta Braves, which begins Saturday.
- "As of now, it's something I'm just going to have to manage," Ohtani said through an interpreter.
- Ohtani also went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, but he didn't pitch past July 3 and had essentially been ruled out of pitching by Labor Day.
- "During the IL I pretty much knew I wasn't going to pitch the rest of the season," Ohtani said.
- Ohtani, 32, said he still has to make "little tweaks here and there" with his swing before feeling ready for Game 1.
- "Whether I have a lot of at-bats or not, I can figure out how I feel, especially in my setup," Ohtani said.
- But Ohtani won't be fully healthy then and perhaps at any point this postseason.
- Knee and bicep injuries finally sent Ohtani to the injured list in early September, on the heels of a 14-game stretch that saw him compile seven hits and 22 strikeouts.
- Ohtani took batting practice on the field during workouts on Tuesday and Wednesday, a rarity for him, and Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates said those sessions were "as good as we've seen it this year as far as the way the ball was coming off and the way he was getting his move off." "He did hit a couple balls up off the scoreboard," he said.
- Ohtani also took three plate appearances against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a prolonged simulated game Wednesday, worked out inside Thursday and came onto the field for three rounds of outdoor batting practice around 6 p.m.
- By all accounts, the 32-year-old made progress during the bye week the team had to begin the playoffs.
- For the one intrasquad scrimmage reporters were allowed to observe on Thursday, Ohtani was nowhere to be seen (staying back in the clubhouse and indoor batting cages to get his work in instead).