way player for the foreseeable future, gives up on a dream ... for now
AOL.com • • sports
Key Points:
- Shohei Ohtani, the two-way Dodgers star and two-time MVP, will not be pitching in the near future due to ongoing left knee discomfort, ending his pursuit of the 2026 Cy Young Award.
- Ohtani has been dealing with the knee injury since June 11, continuing to play through pain until the Dodgers sidelined him before the All-Star break for rest and treatment, but his recovery timeline remains uncertain.
- Despite the injury, Ohtani continues to bat as the Dodgers' leadoff hitter and designated hitter, but his pitching, which he views as his true calling, is currently on hold.
- Ohtani's strong early-season pitching performance included a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings, but limited starts due to a six-man rotation and his injury made a Cy Young Award unlikely.
- The injury highlights the physical limits even for a player of Ohtani's exceptional talent, underscoring his ongoing battle to balance his unique two-way role with his body's constraints.
