Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani departed his outing early during Wednesday’s road game against the Cincinnati Reds, exiting in the fourth inning due to cramping in his right hip.
Originally expected to work at least four innings, this appearance marked the first time this season Ohtani lasted into the fourth frame.
He finished with 51 pitches, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out four, and issuing two walks before medical staff escorted him off the mound.
Ohtani, the reigning National League MVP, reported he felt discomfort in the first inning and tried to pitch through it, but “it didn’t quite work out in the fourth” when the issue worsened.
The hot, muggy conditions, temperatures at first pitch near 90°F and a heat index approaching 100, were cited by both the pitcher and manager Dave Roberts as contributing factors to the cramping.
Performance and context
Despite departing from the mound, Ohtani remained in the game as the Dodgers‘ designated hitter.
He recorded five atbats but went 0-for-5, extending a rough stretch that included a fourstrikeout game the previous night.
“I don’t play defense. That helped, but at the same time, we were playing a close game and I wanted to help the team win,” he said.
This outing represented Ohtani‘s seventh pitching start since returning from Tommy John surgery.
It was also the deepest he has pitched in a single game this season-his earlier mound appearances had been limited to one to three innings to rebuild arm strength gradually.
Manager Dave Roberts explained he removed Ohtani after observing the mechanics of his delivery had deteriorated, stating: “I just saw a funky throw. The follow-through just didn’t look right.”
Upon asking Ohtani, Roberts said, “He said it was his hip. I talked to him and he said it was the humidity. So I feel better knowing that”.
Despite the midinning exit, Roberts expressed optimism that Ohtani will make his next scheduled start on August 6 at Dodger Stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals, noting that coming off the road and back to a cooler environment should help.
Ohtani‘s exit coincided with a narrow 5-2 loss for the Dodgers. Cincinnati avoided being swept in the series by breaking a 2-2 tie with a two-run triple by Spencer Steer in the eighth inning, followed by an RBI single by Will Benson.
Dodgers slugger Freddie Freeman supplied all their offense with a two-run homer in the fourth inning.
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