The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Shohei Ohtani underwent successful arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to repair a labrum tear that was a byproduct of what the team initially deemed a left shoulder subluxation.
The procedure was performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Ohtani suffered the injury on a stolen base attempt in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series. He was thrown out and immediately tended to by Dodgers trainer Yosuke “Possum” Nakajima.
Ohtani gingerly walked off the field while favoring his left shoulder, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said initial testing suggested reason for optimism. Ohtani then underwent an MRI the following day, which the team said revealed just the subluxation — a partial dislocation of the left shoulder.
“We are very fortunate,” Roberts said before Game 3.
He added that Ohtani would not make his injury worse by continuing to play, nor did the Dodgers believe their superstar would be “compromised” because it was his back shoulder.
“I would say it’s more discomfort, and that’s kind of what I alluded to. It’s a subluxation. It’s per an individual’s tolerance,” Roberts added.
He also acknowledged there was a similarity to Cody Bellinger’s right shoulder dislocation from the 2020 World Series. That entailed a torn labrum and Bellinger required offseason surgery as well.
Ohtani appeared to be clearly limited, if not bothered, by his left shoulder for the remainder of the World Series. He went just 1-for-11 with one walk and three strikeouts over the final three games against the Yankees.
Impact of Shohei Ohtani’s shoulder surgery
The Dodgers anticipate Ohtani making a full recovery from shoulder surgery in time for the start of Spring Training in 2025.
However, what’s not immediately clear is what impact, if any, the operation will have on his throwing program. Ohtani had been progressing throughout the playoffs and projected to return to the mound in 2025.
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