Shohei Ohtani to Play in MLB Postseason Despite Injury

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will play in the upcoming Major League Baseball postseason despite dealing with lingering knee and arm injuries. The 32-year-old two-way performer confirmed he is not at full physical health ahead of Saturday’s National League Division Series opener against the Atlanta Braves. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts affirmed that Ohtani will remain in the lineup as a hitter regardless of his health status.

Managing Lingering Health Issues

Ohtani has been hampered throughout the summer by persistent issues in his left knee and right biceps. The ailments led to a stint on the injured list in early September following a difficult 14-game stretch where he recorded just seven hits and struck out 22 times. Addressing his condition, Ohtani explained through an interpreter, “As of now, it’s something I’m just going to have to manage.”

Roberts indicated that several players across the league are competing through physical discomfort at this point in the season, noting that teammate Freddie Freeman is also playing through injuries. Emphasizing Ohtani’s status, Roberts said, “Shohei’s not 100%, but he’s going to be in the lineup.”

Focus Shifted Solely to Hitting

Although Ohtani opened the season active on both the mound and at the plate, he has not pitched since July 3. Before being sidelined from pitching, he accumulated an 8-2 win-loss record with a 1.79 earned run average across 14 starts. During his September absence on the injured list, Ohtani formally shifted his complete focus toward hitting for the remainder of the campaign.

In preparation for the postseason, Ohtani participated in multiple outdoor batting practice sessions and live simulated games this week. He faced team pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Wednesday and Emmet Sheehan on Friday. Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates noted that Ohtani’s recent practice sessions were among his strongest of the year regarding his swing mechanics and ball contact.

Regular Season Performance

Despite his health challenges over the past three months, Ohtani finished the regular season with a .275 batting average, 30 home runs, and 11 stolen bases. His performance puts him in line to finish second in National League Most Valuable Player voting, behind Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs.

After returning from the injured list for the final five games of the regular season, Ohtani went 5-for-21 with eight strikeouts. He acknowledged needing minor adjustments to his swing setup before Game 1 against Atlanta but expressed eagerness to adapt to the playoff environment.

Background

Shohei Ohtani is widely considered one of baseball’s most exceptional talents due to his rare ability to excel both as a starting pitcher and a power hitter. Major League Baseball’s postseason begins in October with the Division Series, a knockout playoff round. The Dodgers enter the postseason relying heavily on Ohtani’s offensive contributions, even while his pitching duties remain suspended due to physical recovery.