​Glendale, Arizona, February 23: Kyle Hurt, wearing number 63 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, throws against the Seattle Mariners in the fourth inning of a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. The scene, captured by Chris Coduto of Getty Images, showcases Hurt in action as part of Dodgers spring workouts in Glendale.
Sacramento, California, June 29: Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers grounds out to first base against the Athletics in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park, with Thearon W. Henderson credited for the photograph. This moment highlights Ohtani during a midseason clash on the west coast.
Breaking news across Major League Baseball emerged when the Dodgers’ social media team announced that Shohei Ohtani would miss his scheduled start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday and would not participate in the upcoming All-Star Game due to an ongoing issue with his left knee. The Dodgers X account posted on July 10 that Ohtani would not take his mound for the evening’s game against the Diamondbacks because of continued irritation in his left knee. He would serve as the designated hitter for the rest of the weekend, but after the series with Arizona he would undergo knee interventions aimed at placing him in the best position for the second half of the season. As a result of these developments, Ohtani would be unable to travel to Philadelphia to participate in the 2026 All-Star Game.
There is cautious optimism that the knee issue is not severe, and given the Dodgers’ substantial lead in the National League West, the team can afford to give its star player some much-needed rest. The Dodgers’ season, the team’s long-term goals, and their preparations for October remain the priority. If this does not escalate, Ohtani is expected to return after the All-Star break.
This situation also raises a question about who would start for the Dodgers on Friday night. On X, @UnderdogMLB announced that Kyle Hurt would get the start for the Dodgers in place of Ohtani on Friday evening. It appears Hurt will likely be deployed as an opener, with a sequence of relievers to follow. Hurt is a three-year MLB veteran who has appeared in 31 games this season for the Dodgers, with no starts recorded and an earned run average around 4.55 across more than 29 innings pitched.
In other recent Dodgers coverage, the team’s encounter with the Athletics in Sacramento on June 29 featured Ohtani’s groundout to first base in the first inning, a moment captured by Getty photographer Thearon W. Henderson. Meanwhile, the Glendale spring training context again framed Hurt’s pitching presence, illustrating the ongoing preparations and competition for the Dodgers’ pitching staff during spring workouts.
These updates reflect a broader narrative about roster management, player health, and strategic planning as the Dodgers pursue postseason success, while fans await clearer updates on Ohtani’s status and Hurt’s potential role in upcoming games. The club continues to balance rest, rehabilitation, and performance as it advances toward the second half of the season and the All-Star break.