The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani on the 15-day injured list for the first time since he joined the club, responding to lingering injuries that have impacted his availability and performance. Manager Dave Roberts announced the decision following a 14-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Shohei Ohtani Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Ohtani has been sidelined by left knee soreness and a right biceps strain, physical issues that forced him out of the lineup six times over a seven-game stretch. The two-way player has not pitched since July 3 and has struggled offensively, batting just .198 with a .689 OPS and 34 strikeouts since August 8, collecting only nine at-bats in September.
It’s the right thing to do,
Roberts said, according to USA Today. We tried to kick the can as much as we could.
The team previously attempted to manage Ohtani’s physical condition by giving him four consecutive days off last week. When he returned, he went hitless in three at-bats and reported renewed biceps soreness, leading the club to keep him out of the subsequent two games before opting for the injured list. Roberts admitted that leadership wished they had made the move sooner rather than relying solely on the rest days.
Ohtani will be eligible to return on September 23, leaving five regular-season games remaining. Let’s get his body feeling well and then slowly ramp back up because now we do have time,
Roberts said, as reported by USA Today.
Top Prospect Josue De Paula Promoted From Double-A
To fill the roster spot, the Dodgers are promoting top outfield prospect Josue De Paula from Double-A Tulsa. De Paula is scheduled to join the team for Friday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins.
The promotion marks a rare operational step for the organization. According to Mlbtraderumors, this is the first time in 12 seasons under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman that the front office has called up a position player prospect directly from Double-A, bypassing Triple-A Oklahoma City entirely. De Paula is not currently on the 40-man roster, meaning the club will need to make a corresponding transaction to accommodate him.
De Paula has spent his entire age-21 campaign at Double-A, posting a .303 batting average with 27 home runs, 104 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, and a .948 OPS across 588 plate appearances, according to USA Today. He also maintained a 13.7% walk rate while striking out in less than 15% of his plate appearances.
Ranked by sports.yahoo.com as the top outfield prospect in baseball, De Paula has drawn comparisons to a smaller and more athletic version of Yordan Alvarez due to his raw power and plate discipline.
Standings Context and Postseason Outlook
Despite managing injuries to key contributors like Ohtani and Freddie Freeman—who missed a game due to right knee soreness—the Dodgers hold an 89-57 record, representing the second-best mark in the National League. The team recently completed a seven-game homestand sweep and holds a four-game lead over Atlanta for the No. 2 seed and a potential first-round playoff bye. Los Angeles also holds a magic number of six to secure their 13th National League West title in 14 seasons as they pursue their third consecutive World Series title.
