RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 2 sourcesLos Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani received an Orthovisc shot in his left knee during the All-Star break and has not been in the rotation since.
Ohtani has been hitting, and he is continuing to show why he is one of the best hitters in baseball. However, he is having a great year on the mound, and the Dodgers will want him healthy for October. He threw a 30-pitch bullpen last week, but has been shut down again after some more knee soreness. Dave Roberts also revealed that he is dealing with an issue in his right biceps, according to MLB.com's Max Ralph.
Roberts noted that the biceps issue popped up in his last start on July 3, and that it is a result of overcompensation for the knee.
"Trying to mitigate that, we stopped the throwing, stopped the bullpens -- hopefully, No. 1, take care of the knee and then not have him try to create velocity with the arm that's not 100%," Roberts said.
Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!
As much as the Dodgers want to win now and complete a three-peat, they know that Ohtani is under contract for years to come, and they are interested in building a dynasty that extends beyond just three seasons. They are not going to make any hasty decisions or be impatient with their superstar player. However, Roberts did not rule out a return to the mound.
"Everything that I've heard, that's not the option," Roberts said Tuesday when asked if the team would rule Ohtani out from pitching in October. "I guess anything's possible, but for me, it's highly unlikely. ... If the knee continues to get better and the arm continues to feel better, I would expect him to pitch. I'm trying to give him the best opportunity to be as healthy as possible so he can help us on both ends of the baseball."
Ohtani will continue to hit, and Roberts noted that he is very valuable to the team even as a one-way player.
"If we look at him and his value for our ballclub, we need him in the lineup," Roberts said. "The swing, the running of the bases, the knee, the arm -- it doesn't compromise that. In talking to Shohei and the training staff, that's where we're at."
More MLB: Why Red Sox Should Avoid Trading For Shortstop
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.