Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani undergoes shoulder surgery for torn labrum, expected to be ready for spring

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Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani undergoes shoulder surgery for torn labrum, expected to be ready for spring

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – With the Los Angeles Dodgers’ quest for a World Series title complete, manager Dave Roberts revealed what his franchise star, Shohei Ohtani, was dealing with.

“He played with one arm in the postseason,” Roberts said. “So most guys would probably drop out, but he wouldn’t be denied playing, posting and being in the lineup.”

As it turned out, Ohtani was playing through a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, which he suffered when he partially dislocated it while trying to steal second base in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Times . York Yankees. Roberts initially said tests and scans showed no structural damage in the area. Ohtani said at the time that he was hopeful of avoiding surgery but would discuss the possibility with doctors.

Ohtani underwent arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday to repair the problem. Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the procedure. The Dodgers said Ohtani is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

What it means for the two-way star’s immediate future remains unclear. Ohtani was building up as a pitcher in October when he returned from a second major elbow ligament reconstruction, but never got to the point where he was facing hitters. While this surgery involves a completely different arm, it is uncertain whether it will change Ohtani’s expected return to pitching.

The Dodgers have a recent history with this type of rehabilitation for a hitter. Outfielder Cody Bellinger dislocated his right shoulder on the occasion of a go-ahead home run in the 2020 National League Championship Series, played the World Series and underwent surgery for a torn labrum on November 17. He was in the Dodgers’ lineup on opening day, but struggled that season (and the next) as he worked to regain strength in the shoulder. Unlike Ohtani, Bellinger’s torn labrum was in his lead shoulder, which generates more power in the swing.

Ohtani was in obvious discomfort during the final games of the World Series, going 1-for-11 after the injury, and clamped his left arm to his jersey while on the base paths to ensure he wouldn’t do further damage to the shoulder .

Nevertheless, it was a dream that ended for Ohtani and the Dodgers in the first year of his record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract. Ohtani’s encore performance as a Dodger is already said to be the subject of great intrigue, from his potential return to the mound in his native Japan (where the Dodgers open the 2025 season in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs) to his quest to help the Dodgers become the first repeat World Series winners since the 1998-2000 Yankees.

It would also be a spectacle to see Ohtani follow up one of the most notable individual offensive performances in a single season in baseball history, when he became the first player with more than 50 home runs (he finished with 54). and 50 stolen bases (he swiped 59) in one season.

He is now undergoing rehabilitation surgery for shoulder surgery.