As the Los Angeles Dodgers took a 2-0 series lead in the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees, some of the excitement was taken out of the air due to Shohei Ohtani suffering a left shoulder injury at the end of the seventh inning.
Ohtani was determined to have a left shoulder subluxation, which is a partial dislocation. Initial testing confirmed there was nothing else in his shoulder affected by the dislocation, and Ohtani was back in the Dodgers lineup for Game 3.
Manager Dave Roberts compared it to the injury Cody Bellinger suffered in 2020, which ultimately required him to undergo surgery and sidetracked his career a bit.
Whether Ohtani will end up needing surgery is unknown at this point. The designated hitter is hopeful to avoid it, but he will undergo additional testing and have more dialogue about his next steps after the World Series.
“I haven’t had further conversations about the future plan,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton.
“I think it’s something that’s going to happen after the season is over, do additional testing. But in terms of how I feel now, I don’t think so.”
Fortunately for the Dodgers, Ohtani’s injury is believed to be less serious, as it’s been implied the labrum in his left shoulder was undamaged.
“Just a different shoulder, where I would argue that the right shoulder is more compromising to the swing for a left-handed hitter than the left shoulder,” Ohtani said about the potential impact at the plate.
If he damaged the ligament, surgery would have been necessary.
For the meantime, Ohtani’s swing is not believed to be compromised, and while he did show some signs of pain and discomfort on Monday night, that was expected.
Did Shohei Ohtani have a sling on?
When Ohtani ran out of the dugout for Game 3 introductions, he was spotted with what appeared to be a sling on his shoulder. However, Ohtani confirmed that was not the case, instead noting it was a heating pad used in the cold weather of New York.
“I was told to wear a device that keeps my shoulder warm,” Ohtani said. “So during the ceremony and throughout the game, I was wearing that per recommended by the trainers.”
Make sure to follow Dodger Blue on Instagram! It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!
