Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is going on the injured list, manager Dave Roberts told the media, including Dodgers Nation.
Ohtani has missed six of the last seven games due to a bicep injury and knee soreness. The Dodgers tried to avoid putting him on the injured list, but they eventually ran out of time to wait.
The soonest he could return would be Sept. 23 now that he has been placed on the injured list, which allows him to play in just five games before the end of the regular season.
In a corresponding move, top prospect Josue De Paula is getting called up, Roberts confirmed after a wave of initial reports.
Roberts, who has been steadfast in his belief that Ohtani will avoid the injured list until recently, acknowledged that it was the best choice to make.
“It’s the right thing to do, we tried to kick the bucket as much as we could,” the skipper said.
“Disappointed in the sense that he wants to play but he realizes it’s the best thing for him so he can be the player we all want him to be in October.”
Indeed, Roberts perfectly illustrated why making this move here and now makes so much sense.
The Dodgers made the right call
With Ohtani returning on Monday, Sept. 7th rather than going on the injured list, the Dodgers lose the ability to backdate his IL placement.
However, with a fresh set of days off, the Dodgers can now backdate Ohtani’s IL placement to Tuesday, giving him a runway to get some major league reps before the season’s close.
Ohtani and the Dodgers were forced to either play him and hope that he can adjust to his limitations, or sit down for an extended period.
LA made the only call that could help him heal even a little.
