Ohtani Out: Dodgers Star to Miss All-Star Game Due to Knee Injury
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani will miss next week's All-Star Game due to left knee irritation, along with a scheduled pitching start. Despite this setback, Ohtani will continue as designated hitter and plans for "interventions" on his knee to prepare for the season's second half. The two-way sensation maintains stellar statistics and recently hit his 300th career home run.Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is set to miss the upcoming All-Star Game in Philadelphia due to ongoing irritation in his left knee. The Dodgers also announced that Ohtani would not be making his scheduled pitching start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. Despite this, he is expected to continue his role as designated hitter throughout the weekend series.
Ohtani has been experiencing discomfort in his left knee for approximately a month, with an earlier outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 11 being cut short due to inflammation in the same knee. Following the conclusion of the series against the Diamondbacks on Sunday, Ohtani is scheduled to undergo certain “interventions” on his knee. These procedures are intended to prepare him for the demanding second half of the season, necessitating his absence from the midsummer classic.
Despite the knee issues, the four-time MVP has maintained an exceptional performance this season, once again distinguishing himself as baseball's sole prominent two-way player. At the plate, Ohtani is batting an impressive .290 with 20 home runs and 56 runs batted in. On the mound, the right-hander boasts a remarkable 8-2 record with a 1.79 earned run average and has tallied 95 strikeouts across 85 2/3 innings pitched.
Ohtani’s absence is anticipated to be a significant blow to Major League Baseball’s showcase event at Citizens Bank Park. The Japanese star, who recently turned 32, is widely recognized as one of the game's most popular athletes, having led MLB in jersey sales last year. Earlier this week, he achieved a significant milestone, hitting his 300th career home run—a leadoff shot against Colorado’s Michael Lorenzen—making him the first Japanese-born player in the majors to reach this historic mark.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who are the two-time defending World Series champions, currently hold baseball’s best record at 61-33 heading into Friday’s game, showcasing their dominant performance as Ohtani continues to contribute as a key player.