Superstar Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who was sidelined from the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game due to a knee injury, is expected to return to his regular schedule for the second half of the season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke with reporters on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ahead of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. Roberts confirmed that Ohtani will start as the designated hitter in the team’s first series after the All-Star break against the New York Yankees.
Ohtani, known for his prowess as a two-way player, continues to deliver exceptional performances this season.
On the mound, he’s made 14 starts, boasting an impressive 8-2 record with a 1.79 earned run average (ERA). Over 85⅔ innings, he’s allowed just 21 runs (17 earned) while striking out 95 batters, showcasing Cy Young-caliber pitching. At the plate, Ohtani has appeared in 92 games, hitting .293 (98-for-335) with 22 home runs, 58 run batted ins (RBIs), 65 runs scored, and an outstanding .952 on-base plug slugging (OPS).
These remarkable achievements earned Ohtani the distinction of receiving the most fan votes for the All-Star Game since his MLB debut.
However, after the final game of the first half against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, Ohtani underwent a procedure to drain fluid from his knee, forcing him to withdraw from the All-Star Game.
Fortunately, Ohtani’s knee injury isn’t considered serious, and he’s slated to play in the three-game road series against the Yankees starting July 18.
While fans are eager to see Ohtani back on the mound, it may take a bit more time. His last pitching appearance was on July 4 against the San Diego Padres.
When asked about Ohtani’s pitching plans for the Yankees series, Roberts stated that it hasn’t made a decision yet.