Daily News 19

Tag: Shohei Ohtani

  • “They basically lie”: Shohei Ohtani Accused of Concealing Multiple Injuries to Avoid Dodgers’ Injured List

    “They basically lie”: Shohei Ohtani Accused of Concealing Multiple Injuries to Avoid Dodgers’ Injured List

    Shohei Ohtani’s latest injury setback has left the Los Angeles Dodgers dealing with more than a hole in their lineup; it has also raised uncomfortable questions about communication between the club and its biggest star.

    Ohtani Lands on Injured List After Lingering Issues

    Ohtani was placed on the 15-day injured list following weeks of physical problems that included left knee discomfort, right biceps soreness, and more recent arm pain. Los Angeles had repeatedly attempted to manage the situation through rest, but his production declined, and a brief return against the Cincinnati Reds only deepened the concern.

    Rosenthal Questions Player Communication

    Speaking on Foul Territory, Ken Rosenthal suggested the issue may not be simply whether the Dodgers gave Ohtani too much control over his availability. “Is this a case of a player just having too much control?” Rosenthal asked. “And I don’t know that it is, as much as a player who is not communicating his physical condition well enough to the team.”We’ve seen this over the years with a lot of players who want to stay on the field. They basically lie about their injuries.” Rosenthal was speaking broadly about the way some players minimize physical problems, not establishing that Ohtani intentionally misled the Dodgers.

    Roberts Reveals Delayed Injury Report

    The concern became more pointed after manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that Ohtani did not tell the medical staff right away about discomfort he felt during a swing. “There was a swing Monday that he didn’t feel great on, hasn’t totally recovered from Monday,” Roberts said. “So the thought is to give him today and then huddle up with him, the medical staff, and figure out what the next steps.” Those discussions eventually ended with Ohtani going on the IL for the first time this season.

    Dodgers Address Communication Directly

    Roberts also confirmed the Dodgers had spoken directly with Ohtani about the communication issue. “We did,” Roberts said when asked whether the club had emphasized the need for better communication. “That’s right. We did.”

    Ohtani Acknowledges Need for Reflection

    Ohtani did not dismiss the concern. “It’s hard to say now with the season still going on,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “It’s something that I’m going to reflect back on during the offseason. I’m just making sure that I’m focusing on the now and finishing strong.”

    Performance Dip and Pitching Uncertainty

    Ohtani’s performance had already shown signs that the injuries were affecting him. He went 2-for-26 over his previous seven games and 6-for-52 over a longer stretch, with his swing looking increasingly uncomfortable. He has not pitched since July 3 because of knee issues, and the Dodgers are no longer expecting him back on the mound this season. Because Ohtani is a designated two-way player, he must remain on the IL for at least 15 days; his earliest possible return is September 23.

    Dodgers Call Up De Paula, Eye October Return

    The Dodgers recalled Josue De Paula from Double-A Tulsa to help cover the absence. At this stage, Los Angeles’ priority is to get Ohtani healthy enough to matter in October.

    The larger lesson may be just as important. With a player as competitive and valuable as Ohtani, the Dodgers need complete honesty about how he feels, even when the answer is one he doesn’t want to give.

  • Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts Confirms Shohei Ohtani Placed on IL

    Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts Confirms Shohei Ohtani Placed on IL

    Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Wednesday that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is being placed on the injured list. The decision comes after Ohtani missed six of the team’s last seven games due to lingering soreness in his right biceps and left knee.

    Roberts: Move Was Necessary Despite Playoff Push

    “It’s the right thing to do,” Roberts said following the Dodgers’ 14-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, which Ohtani was sidelined for. “We tried to kick the bucket as much as we could.”

    The skipper added that Ohtani would be in the lineup on Thursday “if it were a postseason game,” underscoring the cautious approach with the four-time MVP as Los Angeles pursues a third consecutive World Series championship.

    Ohtani Confirms Focus on Hitting for Remainder of Season

    Ohtani, who will not pitch again this season due to his injuries, addressed his role moving forward after Monday night’s home victory over Cincinnati.

    “Most likely, no,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton when asked about pitching again this season following the team’s Monday night win at home over the Cincinnati Reds, per MLB.com. “I’m going to be focusing on hitting moving forward.”

    Dodgers Call Up Top Prospect for Road Trip

    Los Angeles is off Thursday before opening a seven-game road trip in Miami on Friday. Top prospect Josue De Paula is expected to join the team in Miami to provide outfield depth during Ohtani’s absence.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

  • Dodgers call up top prospect Josue De Paula as Shohei Ohtani heads to IL

    Dodgers call up top prospect Josue De Paula as Shohei Ohtani heads to IL

    De Paula Set for Major League Debut Friday

    The Los Angeles Dodgers are promoting top prospect Josue De Paula, manager Dave Roberts announced Wednesday night. De Paula will join the club Friday for the opening game of a three‑game series against the Miami Marlins. The move coincides with Shohei Ohtani heading to the injured list as the corresponding roster transaction.

    “We’re going to IL Shohei,” Roberts said after the Dodgers’ 14-1 rout of the Cincinnati Reds. “Talking to Shohei, the doctors, the training staff, it’s the right thing to do. I think that we tried to kick the can as much as we could, but we are going to bring Josue. He’ll make his major league debut on Friday as a designated hitter.”

    With Ohtani sidelined, De Paula is expected to handle the “lion’s share” of reps at designated hitter, Roberts added. The 21‑year‑old outfielder could also spell teammates at the corner outfield spots, though that appears less likely given Teoscar Hernández’s strong play and the team’s desire to test Kyle Tucker in a late‑season role.

    Ohtani Placed on 15‑Day Injured List

    Ohtani has been managing multiple ailments, including persistent soreness in his left knee, right biceps and neck. After sitting out four games last week, he returned Monday against the Reds and went 0‑for‑3 with two strikeouts and a walk, then missed Tuesday and Wednesday’s games. Because Ohtani is a two‑way player, he must be placed on the 15‑day injured list. He will be eligible to return for the final series of the regular season, and the Dodgers are optimistic that timeline holds.

    Roberts Confident Ohtani Will Return for Postseason

    “I do think that if the playoffs were tomorrow, he’d be in the lineup,” Roberts said of Ohtani. “And so now knowing that there’s got to be some at‑bats taken before the playoffs, and he understands that. So I’m pretty confident that he’ll be ready to go on that 15th day.”

    Unorthodox Promotion from Double‑A

    The Dodgers have historically avoided calling up top prospects unless a clear path to consistent playing time exists. De Paula’s arrival signals the organization sees a window to give its top prospect his first real opportunity in the majors.

    “The thought was there is a little bit of a runway now with Shohei on the IL, and we can get him some major league at‑bats and see how that looks,” Roberts explained.

    De Paula will be promoted directly from Double‑A, a first for a position player under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. The decision was influenced by Ohtani’s injury and the need to add De Paula to the 40‑man roster this offseason anyway.

    “I think that our player development group is very confident in his ability to conduct an at‑bat,” Roberts said. “You could argue that the talent in Double A is similar to Triple A, as far as pure arms and arm talent. I think that we’ve seen him in camp for two or three years. He doesn’t run from velocity. He controls the strike zone. And I think that this is just a good opportunity for him to kind of cut his teeth in the big leagues.”

    De Paula’s Breakout Season and Scouting Reports

    Signed as an international free agent in 2022, De Paula entered the season ranked as the No. 20 prospect in baseball by The Athletic’s Keith Law. He is enjoying a breakout campaign in the Texas League, hitting .303 with a .948 OPS and 31 stolen bases over 124 games for Tulsa. De Paula hit his 27th home run of the season Wednesday in the Drillers’ 10‑1 win over Northwest Arkansas.

    Evaluators across the organization have been impressed, with one noting that De Paula possesses the Dodgers’ best pure hit tool since Corey Seager.

    Heyward Praises De Paula’s Swing and Approach

    De Paula has spent time working with special advisor Jason Heyward, who raved about the youngster’s swing and overall approach.

    “It’s definitely something that’s fun to watch,” Heyward said in a recent interview with The Athletic. “It’s much easier said than done, what he’s able to do in the box, maintain his tempo. He goes at the pace he would like to go at, and that allows him to make good decisions, whether it’s chasing very rarely and on pitches that are in the zone, getting the kind of swing off that he wants to get off. That’s the name of the game.”

    Dodgers Extend Win Streak, Near Playoff Clincher

    With Wednesday’s victory, Los Angeles (89‑57) has won seven straight games. The Dodgers extended their lead to four games over the Atlanta Braves for the second seed in the National League playoff standings and can clinch a postseason berth as early as Saturday. Their magic number to clinch the National League West stands at six.

  • “A Lot of Mileage”: Max Muncy Shatters Dodgers’ 110‑Win Expectations With Blunt Remark

    “A Lot of Mileage”: Max Muncy Shatters Dodgers’ 110‑Win Expectations With Blunt Remark

    Max Muncy Dismisses 110-Win Expectations as Dodgers Chase Third Straight Title

    The Los Angeles Dodgers have redefined excellence over the last six years. Back in 2019, during a dominant regular-season run, starter Rich Hill captured the team’s mindset perfectly: “We’re as good as we want to be.” Since that declaration, the franchise has added three World Series championships to its trophy case. Yet the internal bar has only risen higher. Even entering the current campaign as the defending champions and a second-seeded team chasing a historic three-peat feels, by Dodger standards, merely expected.

    The Mileage of Back-to-Back Global Starts

    That context frames third baseman Max Muncy’s blunt response when Erik Kratz of Foul Territory asked about the possibility of reaching 104 wins this season. Muncy didn’t mince words:

    “You think about the last two seasons that we played, obviously we won, but they were also two of the longest seasons in history in terms of when we started to when we finished, starting overseas. So it’s just, it’s a lot of mileage on everybody. And to show up and try to win 110 games like that, that would have been almost impossible to do. It’s just not realistic.”

    Muncy’s assessment is grounded in a grueling travel schedule unprecedented in modern baseball. The 2024 regular season opened with the Seoul Series in South Korea, where the Dodgers faced the San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome. The 2025 campaign began at the Tokyo Dome against the Chicago Cubs. In both years, the club played roughly 30 Spring Training games, flew halfway across the world for an opening series, and immediately embarked on a standard 162-game marathon.

    No True Offseason Respite

    The 2026 season offered no international trip, but the workload hardly decreased. Before Spring Training even began, nine Dodgers players suited up for the World Baseball Classic, logging competitive innings while most peers were still ramping up. The cumulative fatigue Muncy referenced is a tangible factor the front office and coaching staff must manage.

    Regular-Season Dominance vs. October Success

    History backs Muncy’s pragmatism. In 2019, Los Angeles won 55 of its first 81 games—a 110-win pace—before finishing with 106 victories. The COVID-shortened 2020 season saw a .717 winning percentage and a World Series title. The franchise set a record with 111 wins in 2022, added 106 in 2021 and exactly 100 in 2023, yet came up short in October during each of those three campaigns.

    Conversely, the last two championship runs came with 98 and 93 regular-season wins respectively. The evidence is clear: maximizing regular-season win totals is not a prerequisite for a parade.

    Injury Crisis and Playoff Positioning

    With 17 games remaining, reaching the 104-win mark Kratz mentioned would require a 16-1 finish—an unnecessary gamble for a roster battling attrition. The injured list currently holds 13 names, headlined by two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. Already restricted from pitching duties, Ohtani was recently placed on the IL due to knee inflammation and biceps discomfort, complicating the lineup’s most dynamic weapon.

    While the Dodgers hold the second seed in the National League, the Atlanta Braves remain within striking distance. A slip could force a Wild Card Series appearance, adding yet another layer of high-leverage baseball before the Division Series even begins.

    Eyes on the Prize: A Third Ring

    The priority is unambiguous: arrive in October with a healthy, aligned roster. Chasing a regular-season win record adds pressure without playoff leverage. Max Muncy isn’t worried about satisfying external expectations for 110-plus victories. He and his teammates are focused on the only number that extends the dynasty—ring number three.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers Announce Kyle Tucker Change Ahead of Reds Game

    Los Angeles Dodgers Announce Kyle Tucker Change Ahead of Reds Game

    The Los Angeles Dodgers aim for a sixth consecutive victory Tuesday night as they continue a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. The matchup presents a favorable offensive opportunity for Los Angeles, with left-hander Nick Lodolo (ERA above 5.00) starting for Cincinnati against Dodgers right-hander Tarik Skubal.

    Lineup Shakeup Against Southpaw Lodolo

    Manager Dave Roberts has significantly altered the batting order to counter the left-handed Lodolo. The most notable omission is outfielder Kyle Tucker, who sits against the southpaw.

    Here is the full Dodgers lineup for Tuesday’s game, per @UnderdogMLB:

    “T. Edman CF M. Betts SS W. Smith C F. Freeman DH T. Hernández RF M. Rojas 2B A. Call LF M. Muncy 3B E. Hernández 1B T. Skubal SP”

    Key Changes From Monday’s Lineup

    The lineup card looks markedly different from the series opener. Among the major adjustments:

    • Shohei Ohtani is out of the lineup.
    • Mookie Betts returns at shortstop, batting second.
    • Freddie Freeman moves to the cleanup spot as the designated hitter.
    • Will Smith is back behind the plate, forming a battery with Skubal.
    • Miguel Rojas bats sixth at second base.
    • Andy Pages (listed as A. Call in the source) starts in left field.

    The Dodgers will look to capitalize on the platoon advantage against Lodolo as they pursue the series win and extend their winning streak.

  • Dodgers Call Up Josue De Paula

    Dodgers Call Up Josue De Paula

    The Los Angeles Dodgers officially placed superstar Shohei Ohtani on the injured list Wednesday, a move the organization had been considering for over a week. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the decision following the team’s 14-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

    Ohtani Sidelined by Dual Injuries

    The two-way phenom is dealing with lingering issues in his left knee and right biceps. The placement on the IL opens a roster spot and signals a shift in the Dodgers’ lineup as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season.

    Top Prospect Josue De Paula Expected to Debut

    In a corresponding move, highly touted outfield prospect Josue De Paula is expected to join the active roster on Friday when Los Angeles opens a weekend series against the Miami Marlins. The 21-year-old is not currently on the 40-man roster, meaning the front office will need to make an additional transaction to accommodate his promotion.

    Dominican Republic Signing Develops into Elite Hitting Prospect

    Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, De Paula has rapidly ascended through the minor league system. MLB Pipeline currently ranks him as the organization’s most advanced hitting prospect since Corey Seager.

    Offensive Profile Draws Yordan Alvarez Comparisons

    Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 185 pounds, De Paula has drawn comparisons to a smaller, more athletic version of American League MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez. Scouts highlight his tremendous raw power combined with an advanced plate discipline that yields excellent pitch selection.

    Dominant Double-A Season Forces Promotion

    De Paula’s production at Double-A Tulsa this season made the call-up inevitable. In 588 plate appearances in the Texas League, he posted a .303/.401/.547 slash line with 27 home runs, 104 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases. He added to those totals Wednesday, launching a solo home run in the first inning of the Drillers’ 10-1 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.