Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani disclosed Tuesday that a bicep injury is also contributing to the uncertainty surrounding his return to pitching this season. This revelation comes in addition to the left knee injury he has been managing since mid-June.
Ohtani stated that his right bicep is not currently at 100%. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that the bicep did not respond well after a bullpen session Ohtani threw in Philadelphia last week, which has prevented him from attempting another since then. Ohtani had previously reported minor bicep discomfort on a couple of occasions earlier this season, including during a July 3 start where he was removed early due to tightening in his bicep as a hitter.
Until Tuesday night, the Dodgers had publicly attributed the delay in Ohtani's pitching return solely to his knee injury. Ohtani described the precautions being taken with his bicep as similar to those with his knee, noting that his ability to push through is a matter of judgment that will be re-evaluated in August and September. Roberts added that the issues with both his knee and bicep have affected his lower body and arm, leading the team to stop throwing and bullpens to mitigate further issues and prevent Ohtani from attempting to generate velocity with an arm that is not at full strength.
Despite these setbacks, the Dodgers have consistently expressed confidence that Ohtani will pitch again this season and be ready for the playoffs. Ohtani reported that his knee has improved significantly since receiving an injection over the All-Star break and that his injuries have not impacted his offensive performance. Roberts indicated that while anything is possible, it is highly unlikely Ohtani will not pitch in October, provided his knee and arm continue to improve. However, Roberts also acknowledged that Ohtani will need to rebuild stamina once he resumes pitching due to the time missed.
Questions about Ohtani's health may influence the Dodgers' strategy leading up to the trade deadline, though general manager Brandon Gomes downplayed this notion, citing confidence in the team's current pitching staff and the progress of injured starters Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. Ohtani concluded by emphasizing the importance of team judgment in deciding whether to pitch through discomfort, stating that the team believes they are not yet in a position where he should force a return.