Shohei Ohtani gave Dodgers fans a fresh dose of panic on Tuesday, August 25th, when he was spotted jogging gingerly to the dugout after grounding out in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves. The dude looked like he was limping, and seriously, who needs that kind of heart attack in the middle of a tight game?
The Immediate Scare vs. The Ninth-Inning Triple
Despite the visible discomfort, Ohtani actually stayed in the game. And get this, in the top of the ninth inning, he legged out a triple, ending up stranded at third base. It was a rollercoaster of emotions for anyone watching, seeing him look hobbled one minute, then hustling for a three-bagger the next. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was quick to quell the growing concerns after the game, telling reporters, “I think that when he legged that one ball at first base, that close play, it looked a little funny, but you know, watching him run to third base in the ninth inning, he looked fine.” It’s a good sign he could still push it, but that initial “funny look” stuck with everyone.
The Lingering Left Knee Issue Continues to Impact Pitching Hopes
This isn’t just a one-off scare for Ohtani. He’s got a history of leg injuries, and specifically, he’s been nursing a left knee issue for months this year. It’s been a real struggle for him to shake it off. He’s only been a full two-way player for about half the season, taking a break from pitching since early July because of inflammation in that very knee. The good news is he’s only missed two games in the lineup due to the injury. The bad news? It’s his pitching that truly takes the hit, aggravating when he lands on his left leg during his delivery. The team is still aiming for him to throw a bullpen session either Wednesday or Thursday, hoping to keep his return to the mound on track.
If that bullpen session goes well, Ohtani is lined up to make a start Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, pitching a few innings to ease back into it. The big picture goal is to steadily increase his workload after each outing, aiming for him to get back into that five-inning, 80-pitch shape that could offer some real quality length for the postseason. Let’s hope that knee holds up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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