Shohei Ohtani’s knee issue isn’t the only concern affecting his pitching status. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday for the first time in almost three weeks, he mentioned that his right bicep is also not quite at its best right now.
Manager Dave Roberts noted that Ohtani’s bicep didn’t handle a recent bullpen session in Philadelphia very well, which is why he hasn’t tried throwing again since.
Earlier this season, Ohtani faced mild biceps discomfort on multiple occasions, the last instance being during a two-way start on July 3, which turned out to be his last game. He even suffered a strain while batting that night, prompting an early exit from the game.
Although he’s been sidelined since then, the Dodgers had attributed his inactivity mainly to the left knee injury he’s been dealing with since mid-June. But on Tuesday, after the team lost 7-6 to the Mariners, Ohtani disclosed his ongoing biceps issue—he had a solid game overall, reaching base three times and hitting his first homer since the All-Star break.
“It’s really about knowing how much you can push yourself,” Ohtani explained in Japanese, indicating that biceps and knee precautions are somewhat similar. “It’s still July, so we’ll see what decisions have to be made for August and September.”
Afterward, Roberts confirmed that the condition of Ohtani’s biceps was the primary reason he’s been inactive in the bullpen or on fielding. “His bicep just didn’t respond well after the last session,” he said. “The arm injury is affecting his lower body too. So, we thought it best to pause throwing for now and prioritize his knee health.” He remarked that they’re unsure when Ohtani will be ready to pitch again.
Despite these health challenges, the Dodgers remain optimistic that Ohtani, who has shown signs of improvement in his knee following a lubricant injection during the All-Star break, could return to the pitching rotation ahead of the playoffs in October. Ohtani himself stated that while anything is possible, it’s, well, probably not very likely he’d pitch in October.
Roberts reiterated the priority is to ensure Ohtani is healthy first. As the calendar moves forward, if both his knee and arm improve, there’s a good chance he’ll be back on the mound.
Roberts also recognized that Ohtani has missed substantial pitching time and will need to build up his stamina before resuming full starting duties.
The uncertainty about Ohtani’s health could influence the Dodgers’ strategy as they approach the trade deadline. Still, general manager Brandon Gomez downplayed any immediate urgency for additional pitching, mentioning that other injured starters are making recovery progress.
With lingering questions about Ohtani’s condition, he reflected on the team’s situation: “I think it’s smartest to wait for now. Even after today’s loss, we’re still in a good team position, so it makes sense to discuss things with the team and assess whether pushing myself to pitch is really necessary. I believe it’s been decided that we’re not there just yet.”
