Unfortunate Setback: Ohtani Exits Game After Line Drive Injury Against Rockies

DENVER (AP) — Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star player, had a tough game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. In his first pitching start there, he struggled, giving up five earned runs and nine hits over four innings. Things got worse when he was hit in the leg by a hard line drive.

In the fourth inning, with two runners on base, Ohtani was struck in the thigh by a fast line drive from Colorado’s Orlando Arcia. He limped, obviously in pain, but still recovered the ball and tried to make a play, although a runner managed to score before he could throw.

After a quick check by manager Dave Roberts and the medical team, Ohtani finished the inning, even though the Dodgers were down 5-0. They ultimately lost 8-3.

Roberts expressed relief that the ball hit Ohtani’s thigh rather than his knee. “If it had hit his kneecap, we’d be having a different conversation,” he said. Ohtani himself echoed this sentiment, mentioning he had previously been struck in the same area. “I’m glad it didn’t hit the knee,” he said through a translator. “I think we avoided the worst-case scenario.”

This game marked Ohtani’s 10th start of the season. He hadn’t pitched in 2024 due to elbow surgery. The five earned runs tied his worst performance since July 2022, and the nine hits matched his career high. He remarked, “I put the team in a bad spot. It was just a very regrettable outing.”

Despite the setback, Ohtani continued to show resilience. He walked in his next at-bat and helped maintain an impressive on-base streak of 18 games. Even after being hurt, he finished the game with a double and a walk.

Roberts is optimistic about Ohtani playing again on Friday against the San Diego Padres. Interestingly, Ohtani was already slated to sit out Thursday’s game against the Rockies before this injury. He entered the game with a 3.47 ERA and had not pitched for more than 4 ⅓ innings this season. Against the Rockies, he threw 66 pitches—49 of which were strikes.

As a hitter, Ohtani is performing well, batting .284 with 44 home runs and 83 RBIs, just one home run shy of the leader in the National League, Kyle Schwarber from the Phillies.

This incident raises questions about player safety in baseball, especially considering statistics on injuries. According to a report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, injuries from line drives are a significant concern for pitchers. Experts suggest that improvements in protective gear could help mitigate these risks.

In summary, Ohtani’s outing was disappointing, but his spirit and determination remain high. Fans will be watching closely as he seeks to bounce back this weekend.

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Orlando Arcia, Dave Roberts, Shohei Ohtani, Colorado Rockies, Alex Call, Kyle Schwarber, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baseball, Colorado, MLB, California, CO State Wire, MLB baseball, Sports