Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Shohei Ohtani was hit on the arm by a pitch during Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, leading to the need for X-rays. Fortunately, Ohtani is reported to be “fine” following the incident.
The hit-by-pitch took place in the eighth inning of the game, causing concern among the Dodgers’ home crowd as Ohtani, the NL MVP favorite, showed visible signs of pain. The pitch struck Ohtani on the inside of his left wrist, prompting him to grab his wrist in discomfort as he made his way to first base.
Despite the injury, Ohtani waved off the trainers and decided to continue playing. Shortly after, Mookie Betts hit a home run that not only scored Ohtani but also secured a 3-1 victory for the Dodgers.
Roberts provided an update on Ohtani’s condition post-game, stating, “Ohtani’s OK. I think they took some scans, and I heard they were negative. He’s fine.” This news comes as a relief for the team, especially considering the impact injuries have had on their season, such as Betts’ fractured hand.
With the postseason approaching, a serious injury to Ohtani could have been detrimental to the Dodgers’ World Series aspirations. Thankfully, it seems that Sunday’s incident was nothing more than a scare.
Reflecting on the situation, Roberts expressed, “It’s really scary. You always hold your breath. We experienced that with Mookie a few months ago. And obviously with Shohei, a ball coming in. Fortunately, it hit him on the forearm. But when you start talking about little bones in the hand and things like that — 4-6 weeks this time of year, that’s a scary one.”