The Los Angeles Dodgers strategically planned for Shohei Ohtani to make his next start on Wednesday, which amounted to receiving eight days of rest between outings as a pitcher and coming before an off day in their schedule.
But those best-laid plans didn’t yield the intended results as Ohtani walked off the mound in the fourth inning due to what the Dodgers deemed cramps. Ohtani later revealed the issue was specific to his right hip.
Ohtani also shared he first began experiencing trouble with cramping during the first inning, via SportsNet LA:
“I felt it in the first inning, and just tried to work around it. I was able to do so up until the third and it didn’t quite work out in the fourth.”
In what seemed relatively mundane at the time, cameras did catch Ohtani occassionally hitting his right hip with his hand, beginning in the second inning. He had prior experience with cramping in his calves and hamstrings but not a hip.
The Dodgers planned on having Ohtani pitch four innings in what was going to be his longest start of the season. He did reached the fourth, though failed to retire any of the three batters faced. A leadoff infield single was followed by a walk that included consecutive wild pitches.
Ohtani threw six balls in a row before Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head athletic trainer Thomas Albert went out to the mound. While Ohtani exited his start at that point, he remained in the Dodgers’ lineup as their designated hitter. He went 0-for-5 with one strikeout.
Even with leaving the start early as a pitcher, the outing was Ohtani’s longest of the season at three-plus innings and he set a season high with 51 pitches.
Shohei Ohtani’s next start
Ohtani remains on track for his next pitching start on Aug. 6, which is going to come at Dodger Stadium. He and the Dodgers are poised for more humid weather this weekend during a series against the Tampa Bay Rays before returning to friendly climate.
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