Shohei Ohtanis bombshell move upends everything we thought about his playoff future
CINCINNATI –– After a week of largely light physical activity, Shohei Ohtani is about to begin ramping up again.Starting on Tuesday, the injured Dodgers slugger will begin swinging a bat again by hitting off a tee back in Los Angeles, according to manager Dave Roberts.That will mark the first time Ohtani has done any hitting activities since he was placed on the injured list last Wednesday amid ongoing right arm and left knee problems.Previously, Ohtani’s days had been limited to “lifting [weights], working out, and [getting] treatment,” Roberts said, with the club giving the four-time MVP an intentionally light workload amid his first IL stint in three seasons with the team.Now, Ohtani will embark on what the Dodgers can only hope is a more pain-free hitting progression for their 32-year-old two-way star, who has already been shut down from pitching for the rest of the season after repeated setbacks in his season-long injury saga.“This,” Roberts said of Ohtani’s timeline, “is kind of what him and the training staff agreed upon.”The last two times Ohtani tried hitting in a game, he appeared to be visibly ailing, especially with a right arm issue that has grown as a concern in recent weeks.The injury was hampering Ohtani’s swing, leading to a 6-for-52 slump before he was finally placed on the 15-day IL.
It also left him grimacing in the batter’s box and reporting discomfort to the team’s training staff.The Dodgers do not expect Ohtani’s health to get back all the way back to 100% by the start of the playoffs.But, they are optimistic that he will be able to find a better (and less painful) feel for his swing in the coming week, before being eligible to be activated off the IL for the final five games of the regular season on Sept.
23.Ohtani is not the only player currently dealing with an injury issue.Freddie Freeman was out of the lineup again on Monday while managing a right knee problem.
Miguel Rojas returned from a shoulder issue he ...