​Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will miss next week’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia due to ongoing irritation in his left knee. The Dodgers announced that Ohtani would not start on the mound Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he will continue in his duties as the team’s designated hitter over the weekend. After the series with Arizona concludes on Sunday, the team plans to administer several knee “interventions” to prepare him for the second half of the season, an intervention that will also sideline him from the All-Star Game.
Ohtani, who is in the middle of another outstanding season, remains the game’s premier two-way player. He is batting .290 with 20 home runs and 56 RBIs, and he has gone 8-2 on the mound with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings. His absence will be felt at Citizens Bank Park, the site of baseball’s midsummer showcase, as Ohtani has long been one of the sport’s most popular figures. The Japanese superstar, who celebrated his 32nd birthday earlier this week, was also among the leaders in jersey sales last year.
Ohtani added to his list of milestones this week by belting his 300th career homer on Tuesday night. The leadoff blast came off Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen, making him the first Japanese-born player in major league history to reach the 300-homer milestone. His continued excellence this season has underscored why he is viewed as a rare and electrifying talent, capable of impacting games both on the mound and at the plate.
As the Dodgers navigate the rest of the season, Ohtani’s health will remain a focal point for the organization and fans alike. The plan for the near term is to manage the knee issue through targeted interventions immediately after the current series, with the understanding that his absence from the All-Star Game opens the door for other players to step into the spotlight at Citizens Bank Park.
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