Shohei Ohtani, center, of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after he was injured trying to steal second base against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning in Game 2 of the baseball World Series, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Los Angeles.
11:51 JST, November 6, 2024
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani underwent arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to repair a labral tear in his left shoulder following an injury the Los Angeles Dodgers star suffered during Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26.
The Dodgers say the Japanese two-way player is expected to be ready for spring training in February.
Ohtani injured his non-throwing shoulder while sliding into second base on a stolen base attempt, resulting in a shoulder dislocation. He returned to play the next three games, helping the Dodgers defeat the Yankees in five games to win the championship.
The operation was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the team’s lead physician, in Los Angeles.
Ohtani was just 1 of 11 at the plate with a walk in the World Series after the injury, but his presence sparked a lineup that had relied on his production all season. The 30-year-old produced one of the best regular seasons in baseball history, becoming the first player to have at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season.
Last year he signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers.
It remains to be seen if the surgery will impact Ohtani’s scheduled return to pitching in 2025. The right-hander had surgery on his pitching elbow last offseason, keeping him off the mound in 2024.
The Dodgers will begin spring training in early February, a few days earlier than most other teams, as they play the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series on March 18 and 19.
