​Shohei Ohtani will not be pitching Friday night as scheduled, nor will he travel to next week’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, according to a statement from the Dodgers. The team attributed the decision to a continued irritation in his left knee, the same knee that carried inflammation earlier in the season. As a result, Ohtani will remain with the Dodgers as their designated hitter during this weekend’s series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with plans to undergo interventions aimed at preparing him for the second half of the season.
The Dodgers announced on Friday afternoon that Ohtani would forgo the trip to Philadelphia and skip participation in the 2026 All-Star Game. The club emphasized that the interventions on his knee are intended to place him in the best possible position for a productive stretch run, even if it means delaying his return to the mound and to the All-Star showcase.
Ohtani’s knee issue first surfaced about a month ago, following a June 10 start against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The next day, he had to leave the game early while serving as the designated hitter because of swelling in the knee. He sat out another game before returning to the lineup, but the knee problem persisted in the ensuing days. Throughout the period, the Dodgers have managed expectations and continued treatment for the knee, with Ohtani often seen wearing a sleeve over the affected area.
This season marks another chapter in Ohtani’s long-standing knee history. In 2019, he underwent surgery on the same left knee to address a rare congenital condition known as bipartite patella, in which the kneecap bones fail to fuse completely at birth. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has indicated that he does not believe this year’s knee issue is connected to that prior condition, suggesting the current problem is an unrelated injury or irritation rather than a recurrence of the old surgical concern.
The decision to pause Ohtani’s pitching duties and to skip the All-Star Game reflects a cautious, phased approach by the Dodgers as they prioritize the star’s health and long-term availability for the second half of the season. While fans and teammates may miss his presence on the mound and at the midseason showcase, the organization has stressed that these steps are intended to optimize Ohtani’s upcoming performances and minimize the risk of a more severe setback.
As the Dodgers move forward, all eyes will be on Ohtani’s recovery timeline and the specifics of the planned knee interventions. The club did not detail whether the treatments will be procedural, rehabilitative, or a combination of both, but they reiterated their commitment to protecting Ohtani’s health while positioning him for a strong continuation of the season after the All-Star break.