Ohtani exits due to cramps and blames the weather; worries Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani, affected by cramps, leaves the mound

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hopes to make his next start as a pitcher after a physical issue cut short his performance on Wednesday night. Ohtani, who was scheduled to pitch four innings against the Cincinnati Reds, left the game without recording an out in the fourth inning. This happened after throwing six straight balls, including two consecutive wild pitches. The current National League MVP, 31 years old, explained that he began to feel cramps in the first inning.

“I tried to manage it,” Ohtani stated through an interpreter after the Dodgers’ 5-2 loss. “I was able to do it until the third, but it didn’t work in the fourth.”

Shohei Ohtani

Both Ohtani and manager Dave Roberts attributed the cramps to the weather. The temperature at the start of the game was 90 degrees, with a heat index near 100. Roberts went to the mound with the coach after Ohtani threw an 86.3 mph sweeper that was low and outside the strike zone. After a conversation on the mound, Ohtani was withdrawn with the coach.

“I saw a strange pitch,” Roberts commented. “The tracking didn’t seem right. Then he threw another pitch, and I didn’t see the end of the right form. It was very worrying because I didn’t know what it was. He said it was his hip. I spoke with him, and he said it was the humidity. So I feel better knowing that.”

Dave Roberts

Ohtani, who leads the National League with 38 home runs, remained in the game as the designated hitter, but went 0-for-5 a day after striking out four times. He hit a line drive to Cincinnati center fielder Will Benson for the final out.

“I don’t play defensively. That helped,” Ohtani said about staying as DH. “But at the same time, we were playing a close game, and I wanted to help the team win.”

Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani said he began to feel cramps in his right hip in the first inning of Wednesday night and attributed it to the hot and humid weather in Cincinnati.This was Ohtani’s seventh start since returning from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, which occurred after the 2023 season. He didn’t pitch at all last season, his first with the Dodgers after signing a 10-year, $700 million contract, but excelled as a DH, finishing with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, and winning his third MVP award. Despite being interrupted, it was Ohtani’s longest outing since his return as a pitcher. He threw 51 pitches, 32 of them for strikes, and allowed two runs in three and a third innings. He struck out four and walked two.

“Something good about today’s outing is that my pitch count was where I wanted it to be. I think this is a step forward in a way,” said Ohtani, who has an ERA of 2.40 in 15 innings. “To be honest, I haven’t felt physically well the last two days.”

Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani has allowed four runs, three in the first inning. He has faced 63 batters, striking out 17 and walking five. The pitch most used by Ohtani in his first six starts was the fastball (49%), followed by the sweeper (25%). Against the Reds, he threw only 14 fastballs and 29 sweepers. The Reds’ eight swings and misses were with the sweeper.

“More than the type of pitch, it was manipulating the way I was pitching,” Ohtani commented. “Just not trying to dig too deep into my pitching. Just trying to focus on the mechanics.”

Shohei Ohtani

Noelvi Marte opened the fourth inning with a single and advanced to third base due to Ohtani’s two wild pitches to Tyler Stephenson, who then received a walk. Ohtani threw two balls to Steer and was replaced by Anthony Banda, who walked Steer and allowed a sacrifice fly by Will Benson that tied the game 2-2. If all is well, Ohtani’s next start would be August 6 against St. Louis at Dodger Stadium.

“It will be a week and it will be at home, so he won’t have to deal with the humidity,” Roberts said.

Dave Roberts

Ohtani might start rethinking facing the Reds on the mound. Before Wednesday, his last appearance as a pitcher against Cincinnati was on August 23, 2023, for the Los Angeles Angels. He left the game in the second inning with a torn elbow ligament, an injury that led to his second Tommy John surgery.