Shohei Ohtani Leaves the Mound as a Precaution
CINCINNATI – Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani had to leave the mound in the fourth inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.
After throwing six straight balls, including two wild pitches, and following a conversation on the mound, Ohtani was removed from the game with a 2-0 count against Spencer Steer.
This was Ohtani’s seventh start in his return from his second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, performed 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 he shined as a designated hitter and won his third MVP award.
The Dodgers’ plan for Wednesday was for Ohtani to pitch four innings. He threw 51 pitches, 32 of them for strikes, in just over three innings.
The 31-year-old right-hander allowed two runs on five hits, struck out four, and walked two.
Ohtani remained in the game as the designated hitter, leading the National League with 38 home runs this season.
