Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is unsure whether to undergo offseason surgery to address his injuries.
Will Shohei Ohtani have surgery?
Ohtani has battled right bicep, left knee, and neck discomfort/inflammation since the summer, playing through it all until the final game of the season.
When asked about a procedure or work, Ohtani has always deferred that decision to the offseason.
Now that the Dodgers season is over after their 6-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, Ohtani was asked about a potential offseason procedure to address all of his prevailing injuries.
“Hard to tell at this point,” Ohtani said, via translator Will Ireton. “It’s something that’s going to be analyzed, discussed over the offseason, and see if that’s a viable thing to do.”
What Ohtani learned from these injuries
Meanwhile, Ohtani is left processing how the season ended and trying to break down what led to his run of injuries and health issues.
“I haven’t been able to really come to grip in terms of what I’ve learned overall this season,” he said.
“It’s something that I’m going to kind of go back to the drawing board in terms of treatment, training program, and see what I can come up with for next season.”
There is plenty to be proud of for Ohtani, who was on track to have the greatest season ever, finishing the season as an elite pitcher and hitter.
However, his push for greatness came with consequences down the line, and he will need to manage his body if he wants to hold up now that he is entering his mid-30s.
Given Ohtani’s competitive drive and work ethic, he’ll keep pushing himself to the limit, but this year reminds us what happens when he goes beyond it.
