The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Shohei Ohtani will not make his scheduled start on the mound on Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to continued irritation in his left knee.
Ohtani will serve as the designated hitter the rest of the weekend, but following the series against the Diamondbacks, he will have interventions on his knee to put him in the best position for the second half of the season.
With that being the case, Ohtani is out for the 2026 All-Star Game after being the leading vote-getter.
Ohtani had been selected as the starting designated hitter for the National League and was set to be joined by teammates Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Andy Pages as All-Star starters.
What happened to Shohei Ohtani?
Ohtani’s knee injury occurred during the final game of the team’s series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on a recent road trip. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter and sat out the next game before returning to the lineup.
The Dodgers said Ohtani’s knee trouble is something they would manage, and it appears they will continue to do so during the All-Star break.
Earlier this season, Ohtani was putting together a case to earn the pitching start for the NL in this year’s All-Star Game. But some regression since a June 10 outing against the Pirates began to put a dent in his case.
The biggest impediment, however, came when the Dodgers pushed Ohtani’s pitching start from July 1 to last Friday. That in turn left him lined up to take the mound again on July 10 for a final time before the All-Star break. Thus, it seemingly became unfeasible to pitch in any capacity during the All-Star Game on July 14, and that is obviously the case now with him being ruled out.
As for the Home Run Derby, Ohtani has only participated in the event once — in 2021 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. That also was the same year Ohtani started as a pitcher for the American League team.
“I would love it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said earlier in the week when asked about the potential of Ohtani throwing his name in the ring for the Derby or pitching in the 96th Midsummer Classic.
“But I do think when you’re Shohei, he understands the responsibility he has. So I do think there’s a middle for what’s best for him, what potentially could be downside, but also what’s best for the game. Don’t see him in the Home Run Derby, don’t see him pitching, but I do see him taking an at-bat or two.”
With the Dodgers looking to win their third straight World Series, it makes sense for them to be cautious with Ohtani to ensure he is healthy for the second half.
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