Ohtani to Miss All-Star Game, Next Start Due to Knee

POLICY WIRE — Los Angeles, California — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will miss the upcoming All-Star Game in Philadelphia and his next scheduled pitching start due to continued irritation in his left knee. The Dodgers confirmed Ohtani’s absence from the midsummer classic and stated he wouldn’t make his scheduled start on the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

According to the Dodgers, Ohtani is expected to continue his role as the team’s designated hitter throughout the weekend series against the Diamondbacks. The team added that following the conclusion of the series on Sunday, Ohtani will undergo some “interventions” on his knee. These procedures are intended to prepare him for the second half of the season, which will necessitate his absence from the All-Star Game.

Ohtani, a four-time Most Valuable Player, has been experiencing discomfort in his left knee for at least a month. Reports indicate that an earlier incident occurred on June 11, when an outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates was cut short due to inflammation in the same knee.

This season, Ohtani has maintained his status as one of the best players in Major League Baseball and stands alone as the game’s premier two-way player. As a hitter, he’s batting .290 with 20 home runs — and 56 runs batted in. On the mound, the right-hander holds an 8-2 record with a 1.79 earned-run average, accumulating 95 strikeouts over 85 2/3 innings.

The Japanese star, who recently turned 32 years old, is among baseball’s most popular figures. He led Major League Baseball in jersey sales last year. His absence is expected to be a significant blow for baseball’s midsummer showcase, which will be held at Citizens Bank Park.

Earlier this week, Ohtani achieved a career milestone, hitting his 300th career home run. This leadoff shot against Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen made him the first Japanese-born player in the majors to reach this mark.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, who are the two-time defending World Series champions, currently possess the best record in baseball at 61-33 as of Friday.