by NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was not on the team bus from Dodger Stadium to Los Angeles International Airport because he was being tested Saturday night after partially separating his left shoulder during of Game 2 of the World Series.
So the Japanese star contacted a group chat with other Dodgers players to clear up any doubts about his status.
“The text literally said, ‘I can play,'” infielder Max Muncy recalled Monday. “I mean, there was more to it than that.”
True to his word, Ohtani remained in the lineup in his usual spot as the designated hitter for Game 3 of the World Series Los Angeles holding a 2-0 lead over the New York Yankees.
Ohtani was the only Dodgers starter to wear a warm-up jacket during pregame introductions and salute his teammates with his right hand. A black wrapper was visible on his left shoulder.
He was unsuccessful in his first game at the plate, taking four balls from Clarke Schmidt. Ohtani kept his left arm angled across his chest at first base, hand holding his collar, and kept it there while rounding the bases on Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer.
Ohtani took one swing and missed the third, grimacing slightly, before collapsing. He put his hand to his chest as he ran towards the shelter.
Muncy said Ohtani wrote the text himself in English without the help of interpreter Will Ireton.
“We all just put it aside at that point,” Muncy recalls. “We all said, ‘All right, he got us.’ We’ll be ready for him to be in the lineup.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not receive the text message — “this group chat is for us — it’s for the players,” Muncy said — and didn’t know about it until Monday.
“It would have been helpful if I was on this thread. I would have slept better Saturday night,” Roberts said with a smile.
Ohtani was injured sliding to second base when he was caught stealing to end the seventh inning of the 4-2 victory on Saturday evening in Los Angeles.
Roberts said Ohtani’s shoulder was put back into place by the ballpark’s athletic training staff and an MRI showed no structural damage. He wasn’t sure if the injury would heal on its own or if a procedure would be needed after the series.
When asked if Ohtani had received any medication, an injection or if he was being recorded, Roberts replied: “It’s all of the above regarding the treatment and all that.” The tape only protects and stabilizes, without really limiting.
Ohtani took swings off a tee in a Yankee Stadium batting cage Sunday night and was hitting balls 102 mph, which changed Roberts’ mood to “joy.”
“He was very adamant that he was going to play,” Roberts said. “Obviously there is some discomfort. »
A separated shoulder is prone to recurrence. Roberts said he doubted Ohtani would attempt any more stolen bases during the series.
“If you keep the best player in the game in the lineup, that’s usually good for your team,” Muncy said. “Obviously, he’s a big guy to have in there. This helps a lot. He had some great moments for us, and we obviously expect a few more great moments from him.
With the Dodgers chasing their eighth championship and second in five years, Walker Buehler was scheduled to start Game 3 for Los Angeles in the best-of-seven series.
Ohtani was 0 for 3 with a walk in Game 2. The likely NL MVP was 1 for 8 in the first two games of the Fall Classic and hitting .260 with three home runs and 10 runs scored produced during his first postseason in the majors.
“It was very hard at the time to see him suffer like that,” Muncy said. “We were two sets away from winning this match. We knew we had to refocus. Obviously, it sucks to see Sho in so much pain, but we still had work to do at the moment.
“After the game we all checked on him to see how he was doing. It was like waiting in line at the buffet to see how he was doing. Yes, it was difficult at the time, but we refocused to win the match.
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 home runs, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, becoming the first player with at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season. The two-way star did not pitch this season as she recovered from elbow surgery on September 19, 2023and was limited to the designated hitter.
“You see him walking away holding (his arm) like that, it’s obviously a problem. But I hope he does well,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Game 3. “We all want to be out here competing with and against the best, and obviously Shohei embodies that. So I hope everything goes well and we can go and compete against him.
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