Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani exited Game 2 of the World Series in the bottom of the seventh inning on Friday night with a shoulder injury.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters after a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees that Ohtani “suffered a subluxation of his left shoulder,” per ESPN’s Alden González. He’ll undergo further tests on Sunday.
“We’re encouraged,” Roberts said, per González. The manager added that Ohtani’s strength and range of motion are good despite the injury.
Ohtani appeared to suffer the injury while attempting to steal second base. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register noted that the Japanese broadcast of the game picked up Ohtani saying his shoulder popped out.
Ohtani was helped off the field by a trainer. Ken Rosenthal said there was no update available as to the severity of the shoulder injury on the Fox broadcast.
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The Dodgers led 4-1 at the time of Ohtani’s exit. He had recorded a walk and a strikeout in three at-bats.
Ohtani made his second stolen base attempt of the postseason with Teoscar Hernández, who had hit a two-run homer earlier that night, at the plate.
He thrown out by Yankees catcher Austin Wells on the play, and despite the inning ending remained on the ground, holding his left arm and appearing to be in visible pain.
Ohtani went 1-for-5 during the Dodgers’ Game 1 win in Friday’s start to the World Series. He was batting .260 with 10 RBI and three home runs in 12 postseason games heading into Saturday.
The Dodgers will want to get Ohtani back into the batting lineup as soon as possible, while also hoping his injury has no long-term impact on their plans to resume his work as a two-way player next season. Ohtani, who has not pitched in MLB action since undergoing surgery on his right elbow in September 2023, is slated to return to the mound in 2025.
For now the Dodgers will focus on Ohtani’s immediate health and the question of whether he will be able to return to the plate by Monday as Los Angeles prepares for Game 3.
The World Series is set to continue next week in New York. If necessary, the series will return to Los Angeles on Friday for Game 6.
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