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Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup on Monday night as the designated hitter, ending a four-day absence necessitated by multiple injuries. The four-time MVP had been dealing with discomfort in his left knee, right biceps, and neck. Ohtani resumed his familiar leadoff position against the Cincinnati Reds, with manager Dave Roberts expressing optimism about the star player’s condition while monitoring his performance closely.
Roberts indicated the team would take a cautious approach to Ohtani’s potential pitching future, stating that plans for the pitcher remain indefinite. Ohtani has not taken the mound in competition since early July and has not thrown since late August, focusing exclusively on offensive duties. While Roberts declined to completely rule out a return to the mound, he emphasized there is currently no timeline for that possibility.
The Dodgers capitalized on Ohtani’s absence by winning all four games, including sweeping Washington. The team hopes that concentrating solely on hitting will help Ohtani regain his offensive form, as his performance has declined since the All-Star break. This season, he maintains a .279 batting average with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs, though his post-break statistics show a notable dip at .250 with eight homers and 22 RBIs across 41 games.
Roberts stated the decision prioritizes both team success and Ohtani’s overall well-being, describing the player as content with the arrangement despite his well-documented love for two-way competition.
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Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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