Shohei Ohtani suffered shoulder subluxation in Game 2 win, Dodgers 'encouraged'
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday's win over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series, but the team is optimistic that it isn't a serious injury.
Ohtani was diagnosed with a subluxation of his left shoulder following the game, though his strength and range of motion are good, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters.
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"We’re encouraged," Roberts said.
Ohtani suffered the injury in the seventh inning when he tried to steal second base. He clutched his left arm after being tagged by shortstop Anthony Volpe for the final out in the inning on a feet-first slide. He laid near the bag for a couple minutes before being tended to by trainers and leaving the field.
The Dodgers were able to close out the Yankees in the ninth inning, so Ohtani's spot in the order never came up again. Los Angeles took a 2-0 series lead with the win and will travel to New York on Sunday for Monday's Game 3.
The Japanese superstar — and presumptive National League MVP — was 0 for 3 with a walk in the game. He is 1 for 8 in the first two games of the Fall Classic and is batting .260 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in his first postseason in the majors.
Most of Ohtani's injuries since coming to the majors in 2018 have been pitching related, including major operations on his right elbow in 2018 and last year. The two-way phenomenon has not pitched this year but became the first player in major league history with at least 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season.
In September 2019, he had surgery on his left kneecap due to a rare and congenital condition. The procedure was on his bipartite patella, or a two-part kneecap that didn’t fuse together at birth.
[Related: Full coverage of the World Series]
Ohtani missed the 2017 World Baseball Classic after having ankle surgery because of an injury he suffered during the 2016 Japan Series.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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