Ohtani heads to IL; Dodgers calling up top prospect De Paula to play DH
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Shohei Ohtani has been placed on the injured list due to discomfort in his right arm, sidelining him for at least 15 days and likely limiting his regular-season appearances to five games before playoffs.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers have called up top prospect Josue De Paula from Double-A to temporarily fill Ohtani's designated hitter role, with De Paula expected to play most of the next 11 games.
- Ohtani has not pitched since early July due to left knee soreness and recently experienced offensive struggles, hitting only seven times with 22 strikeouts in his last 54 at-bats.
- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence that the IL stint will help Ohtani recover sufficiently to contribute effectively in the postseason, even if not at 100%.
- De Paula, a highly regarded 21-year-old prospect, has shown major league readiness with strong Double-A performance and was retained by the Dodgers amid trade talks due to his potential impact.
