Shohei Ohtani returns from dislocated shoulder, goes hitless as Dodgers take 3-0 World Series lead

NEW YORK (AP) – Shohei Ohtani was not on the team bus from Dodger Stadium to Los Angeles International Airport because he received tests Saturday night after partially separating his left shoulder in Game 2 of the World Series.

So the Japanese star reached out to a group chat with fellow Dodgers players to clear up doubts about his status.

“The text literally said: “I can play,'” infielder Max Muncie recalled Monday. “I mean, there was more to it than that.”

True to his word, Ohtani remained in the lineup in his regular leadoff slot as the designated hitter Game 3 of the World Series. He started the game and scored on Freddie Freeman's two-run homer. A 4-2 win for the Dodgers over the New York Yankees and lead the World Series 3-0.

Ohtani was 0 for 3 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, looking uncomfortable while swinging. He went down to 1 for 11 in the series.

“If it had been more of the right shoulder, I think it would have affected my swing,” he said through an interpreter. “Thankfully, it was my bum, so I don't think it really did.”

He was the only Dodgers starter to wear a warmup jacket during pregame introductions and high-five teammates right-handed. A black wrap was visible on his left shoulder, which Ohtani said was there to help keep his shoulder warm.

He did not swing in his first plate appearance, taking four balls from Clark Schmidt. Ohtani put his left arm at an angle across his chest while at first base, hands clutching his collar and holding it there as Freeman's homer rounded the bases.

Ohtani held his hand to his chest as he grounded out to third and walked back to the dugout. He struck out in the fourth and fouled out in the seventh.

“The reason I hold myself back when I run is to make sure I don't use the same shoulder arm if I slide,” he said.

Ohtani said he's not sure if he'll need surgery in the offseason.

“I had no more conversations about future plans,” he said. “I think it's something that's going to happen after the season, extra testing. But how I feel now, I don't think so.”

Muncie said Ohtani wrote the text himself in English without the help of interpreter Will Ireton.

“We all just kind of put it to the side at that point,” Munsey remembered. “We all said: 'OK, he's got us. We'll be ready to put him in the lineup.'

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not receive the text message — “the group chat that's for us — that's for the players,” Muncie said — and wasn't aware of it until Monday.

“Would have been helpful if I was in that thread. I could have slept better on Saturday night,” Roberts said with a laugh.

Ohtani is hurt Moved to second base when caught stealing to end the seventh inning A 4-2 win on Saturday night In Los Angeles.

Roberts said Ohtani's shoulder was moved back into place by the ballpark's athletic training staff and an MRI showed no structural damage.

Asked if Ohtani was medicated, an injection or taped up, Roberts said, “It's on top of all the treatments and stuff. The tape is just protecting and stabilizing, not really restrictive.”

Ohtani took a swing off the tee in the Yankee Stadium batting cage Sunday night and hit the ball at 102 mph, which changed Roberts' mood to “ecstatic.”

“He was very adamant that he was going to play,” Roberts said. “Of course, there is some discomfort.”

A separate shoulder is subject to repetition. Roberts said he doubted Ohtani would attempt more stolen bases during the series.

Ohtani is 1 for 11 in the Fall Classic, batting .245 with three home runs and 10 RBI in his first postseason in the majors.

A Two-time AL MVP With the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani joined the Dodgers last December for a record $700 million, 10-year contract.

The 30-year-old slugger hit .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, at least as a first baseman. 50 homers and 50 stolen bases The two-way star did not pitch this season while recovering from a season Elbow surgery on September 19, 2023and restricted to designated hitters.

“You see him walking away holding (his hand) like that, obviously it's a concern. But hopefully he's OK,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Game 3. “We all want to compete with and against the best here and obviously Shohei embodies that. So hopefully everything goes well, and we can compete against him.”

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