Shohei Ohtani seemingly pulled himself from his start against the Cincinnati Reds July 30 in the fourth inning, following a stretch of six consecutive balls.
Ohtani, who took the mound for the first time as a Dodger on June 16, has had a slow ramp-up back to pitching. Entering Wednesday he had maxed out at three innings pitched, allowing two runs in six starts and striking out 13 batters to three walks surrendered.
The three-time MVP expressed discomfort Wednesday in the top of the fourth and spoke to the Dodgers training staff and manager Dave Roberts briefly, covering his mouth with his glove, before being pulled from the game. The two-way star kicked at the mound while talking, but what caused the apparent discomfort was unclear. He was seen sitting in the dugout after being removed following a brief stint in the clubhouse.
Ohtani’s last six pitches were five fastballs − three of which missed the zone down and away and two of which were wild pitches − and a sweeper, his final pitch of the night. His 51 pitches were a season high.
He remained in the game as the Dodgers’ designated hitter, however. In his next at-bat in the top of the sixth inning, Ohtani struck out looking.
Shohei Ohtani injury update
According to the SportsNet LA broadcast, Ohtani was removed from the game due to cramps, ultimately making it seemingly a precautionary measure.
Ohtani told reporters after the game that he began to feel cramping in his hip in the first inning and it eventually began to impact his delivery.
Watch: Shohei Ohtani pitch sequence before leaving mound
Here’s a look at the aforementioned Ohtani pitch sequence before his removal:
Why can Shohei Ohtani stay in game after leaving mound?
MLB and the MLBPA’s latest collective bargaining agreement introduced the ‘Ohtani Rule’ in 2022, which accommodates Ohtani’s unique skill set.
The rule essentially splits Ohtani into two players: Ohtani the pitcher and Ohtani the hitter. If Ohtani the pitcher is removed from the game, even due to injury, Ohtani the hitter is able to stay in the lineup. If Ohtani the pitcher is replaced or Ohtani the hitter is pinch-hit for, that ‘version’ of him cannot come back in the game.
Therefore, Ohtani was able to stay in the game as a hitter, but his day on the mound must end.
This story has been updated with new information.