Dodgers Place Shohei Ohtani on Injured List

The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed star designated hitter Shohei Ohtani on the 15-day injured list due to right arm discomfort. The move, announced following a 14-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, opens a roster spot for top outfield prospect Josue De Paula. With Ohtani sidelined, the team aims to give its high-profile hitter time to recover ahead of the upcoming Major League Baseball postseason.

Ohtani’s Recovery Timeline and Pitching Status

Ohtani’s roster placement is backdated to Monday, making September 23 the earliest date he can rejoin the active lineup. That schedule leaves him a maximum of five regular-season games to build up his hitting before playoff competition begins. Ohtani had sat out six of the team’s previous seven games after experiencing right arm pain following a 10th-inning strikeout last week. He played on Monday, recording two strikeouts and a walk in three at-bats, but reported pain during a swing that prompted management to formalize his rest period.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called the decision “the right thing to do” after attempting to delay an injured list assignment. Roberts expressed strong confidence that Ohtani would return in proper condition for postseason play, stating Ohtani would be playing if a playoff game were scheduled immediately. Ohtani was already unlikely to pitch again this season due to persistent soreness in his left knee, which disrupted an August bullpen session and has kept him off the mound since early July.

Prospect De Paula Promoted to Designated Hitter

To fill the temporary vacancy at designated hitter, Los Angeles is calling up 21-year-old prospect Josue De Paula from its Double-A affiliate. De Paula will join the major league club on Friday for the start of a seven-game road trip against Miami and Cincinnati. Club management expects him to receive most of the playing time at designated hitter over the team’s next 11 games.

Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2022 for under $400,000, De Paula progressed through the Dodgers’ minor league system to become one of the organization’s top prospects. Over 124 games in Double-A, he recorded a .303 batting average along with 27 home runs and 31 stolen bases. Franchise executives previously declined to include him in trade negotiations earlier this summer, viewing him as a key addition to their major league lineup.

Recent Performance and Playoff Preparation

Prior to his injury pause, Ohtani held a .902 on-base plus slugging percentage with 30 home runs and 11 stolen bases this season. However, his offensive numbers dropped during his recent physical ailment, yielding seven hits and 22 strikeouts across his last 54 at-bats. Ohtani plans to take several days off from physical activity before resuming batting practice to prepare for the final days of the regular season.

Background

Shohei Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Dodgers after establishing himself as baseball’s premier two-way player, performing as both an elite starting pitcher and a powerful designated hitter. His arrival on a record-breaking contract followed several standout years with the Los Angeles Angels, where he won multiple Most Valuable Player awards. Over his career, recurring arm and joint injuries have occasionally restricted his pitching workload, forcing him to undergo medical treatments while continuing to contribute as a hitter.