The last thing the Dodgers and MLB wanted to avoid was Shohei Ohtani getting injured in the World Series. (Photo by Alex Slits/Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani injured his shoulder in Game 2 of the World Series and left a previously jubilant Dodger Stadium stunned when he walked off the field with his trainer.
Ohtani was thrown while attempting to steal second base at the end of the seventh inning, and sat on the ground in obvious pain. He was supporting himself with his left arm, which put his weight on it and slid into second place.
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal later reported it was a shoulder injury.
Ohtani did not officially leave the game as the inning ended, and since he is the Dodgers’ designated hitter, Los Angeles did not have to replace him until his next at-bat.
The Dodgers were 4-1 at the time of the injury, but a serious injury to Ohtani would be devastating for the Dodgers and baseball as a whole. The 2024 World Series was set to be Ohtani’s first appearance on baseball’s biggest stage, and he received commensurate praise.
Instead, the Dodgers and their fans will watch with bated breath as the series heads to New York for Game 3, scheduled for Monday.
Stealing bases was the story of Ohtani’s season, from a fast but inefficient baserunner to one of the best runners in baseball in his first season with the Dodgers. He made MLB history with his first ever 50-50 season, finishing the season with 59 stolen bases in 63 attempts, but his skills were a different story in the postseason. This play in which he was injured was his second attempt at the playoffs, but was unsuccessful.
