Dodgers delay Ohtani’s return to mound amid knee regression
The Los Angeles Dodgers have postponed Shohei Ohtani’s scheduled bullpen session on Saturday, citing a regression in his left knee injury following a session in Philadelphia.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has confirmed that star pitcher Shohei Ohtani will miss a planned bullpen session on Saturday due to discomfort in his left knee. Roberts described the setback as a "regression" following a 30-pitch session in Philadelphia on Wednesday, stating that pitching activities will remain suspended until both the player and the organisation feel "100 percent confident" in his readiness.
Despite the interruption to his pitching schedule, Ohtani remains in the team’s batting lineup as a designated hitter for Saturday’s match against the New York Mets. Roberts clarified that hitting and running have not adversely affected the injury, allowing the 32-year-old to continue contributing offensively while his arm rests.
The initial plan for Ohtani involved two bullpen sessions, with the second scheduled for Saturday. However, the discomfort experienced after the Wednesday session in Philadelphia led to the cancellation of the second outing. Roberts emphasised that the team is prioritising long-term stability over immediate return, noting, "We want to make sure that doesn't happen again."
Roberts also addressed concerns regarding the time Ohtani took off during the recent All-Star break. He stated the team was not worried about the hiatus, noting that the knee had actually improved compared to its condition prior to the break. "You feel you can take the break. You come back and throw your 'pen and you can still build up," Roberts said, indicating that the current regression is an isolated issue rather than a result of the downtime.
Ohtani, a four-time Most Valuable Player who has led the Dodgers to the past two World Series titles, currently holds an 8-2 record on the mound with a 1.79 earned-run average over 85 2/3 innings. At the plate, he is batting .286 with 22 home runs and 61 runs batted in. Roberts acknowledged the impact of the delay, describing the absence from the next two pitching starts as a "bummer" for everyone, particularly Ohtani, while praising his continued offensive excellence.
