​PHILADELPHIA – Shohei Ohtani, baseball’s brightest star, will not take part in the All-Star Game after being scratched Friday, July 10, from his scheduled start due to an inflamed knee. While he will remain in the Dodgers’ plans as the designated hitter in their weekend matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he will not travel to Philadelphia to participate in the All-Star festivities or the game itself. Ohtani had been slated to be the National League’s starting DH, a role that will now be filled by another hitter.
The absence creates a void at the event by removing both the defending MVP and one of the game’s most popular vote-getters, as Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Ohtani were leading the balloting. This development is a significant setback for the All-Star Game and a potential blow to Ohtani’s Cy Young candidacy. The four-time MVP had been in line for his first Cy Young award and entered the season with high hopes for that accolade. Through 85.2 innings this year, he carried an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts, figures that place him among the elite in pitching while also maintaining his status as one of the game’s premier hitters.
Ohtani’s injury is a reminder that the 32-year-old superstar has continued to juggle dual roles at an extraordinary level. He had been scheduled to pitch Friday night against the Diamondbacks but was scratched in the afternoon due to the inflamed left knee. The timing is particularly notable coming on the heels of Ohtani’s historic milestone just days earlier, when he belted his 300th career home run in the fewest games to achieve the feat.
Although the All-Star Game did not anticipate Ohtani taking the mound this year, there had been an expectation that he would serve as the starting DH, replacing Philadelphia Phillies slugger Cristopher Sánchez in the lineup. That responsibility will now shift to Kyle Schwarber, the Phillies designated hitter who leads the league with 31 home runs. The Dodgers will be left to adapt without their two-way star as they assess the knee issue and determine how long he will be sidelined from pitching.
At this stage, the duration of Ohtani’s absence from the mound remains undetermined, and officials have not provided a timeline for his return to pitching duties. He is expected to continue serving as the Dodgers’ DH as they navigate this weekend’s schedule, but his status on the mound is currently up in the air. The situation is developing, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
For fans and analysts, the absence of Ohtani from the All-Star event marks a rare interruption in a season already full of extraordinary moments. It also underscores the fragility of even the game’s most exceptional talents when dealing with health concerns, and it leaves the NL with a different set of star power on display at the Midseason Classic. The larger implications for Ohtani’s Cy Young bid and for the Dodgers’ rotation remain to be seen as medical evaluations continue.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY and has been updated to reflect the latest developments surrounding Shohei Ohtani’s injury and his All-Star Game status. The story will be revised as new information becomes available. For ongoing updates, follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale.