Dodgers suffer injuries to Shohei Ohtani and Justin Wrobleski

PITTSBURGH — Ohtani Injured in Game Against Pirates

The Dodgers’ star player, Shohei Ohtani, had to exit Thursday’s match against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to inflammation in his left knee, according to the team’s announcement.

It was somewhat unclear when exactly Ohtani sustained the injury or the severity of it. It became apparent during the seventh inning when Santiago Espinal came in as a pinch hitter in place of Ohtani.

This injury marked the second player-related incident for the Dodgers in the same game; starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski had left in the fifth inning after being struck in the foot by a returning batter.

The team clarified that Wrobleski, who allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings of work, suffered from a right hamstring contusion.

Before Ohtani’s removal, he appeared poised for a standout night. He began with a walk in the first inning, followed by a solo home run in the third, which marked his 13th of the season—his second in just two games. In the fourth inning, he initiated a two-run rally, getting to third base on a hit from Andy Pages before scoring on a line drive from Freddie Freeman.

Interestingly, Ohtani’s last at-bat before leaving came in the fifth when he was left stranded after a walk.

It’s worth noting that Thursday marked the first time in over a month that Ohtani played the day after pitching. He had thrown 6 2/3 innings against the Pirates on Wednesday and even hit a home run in that outing. Despite this, the Dodgers opted not to give him a rest the following day, as Manager Dave Roberts mentioned earlier in the week that the team had taken a break last Monday.

When Ohtani pitches, he tends to land on his left foot, which may raise some concerns. It’s also important to remember he had previously undergone surgery for a left knee issue back in September 2019 when they repaired his bifid patella.

As of Thursday, there weren’t any visible signs of him struggling with the knee, aside from a slip into second base during a double play in the first inning.

Wrobleski’s injury was more straightforward to explain. He got tangled up with Bryan Reynolds while covering the bases after taking a 96.2 mph hit. He immediately showed discomfort and exited the field with his trainer.