"It hit me in the heart" - Shohei Ohtani's ex-manager reveals being devastated after Dodgers star's serious injury

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani’s shoulder injury during last year’s World Series devastated Ohtani’s former manager Hideki Kuriyama.

Kuriyama, who managed Ohtani on Team Japan during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, described his feelings after watching Ohtain sustain a shoulder injury while sliding into second base.

In a Japanese-language interview between Kuriyama and Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts published on Sunday, Kuriyama said:

“It hit me in the heart.”

The expression described the sinking feeling many, from America to Japan, felt when Ohtani left the field under direct supervision from the Dodgers’ training staff.

But as Kuriyama recalled from his days managing Ohtani, Ohtani wasn’t going to come out of the game so easily. Kuriyama said the following regarding Ohtani’s attitude toward injuries:

“I want to play, no matter of kind of injury I’ve got.”

Indeed, Ohtani played through the injury. The Dodgers eventually won the series in five games, with Ohtani notching a double and two walks during the World Series.

It was Ohtani’s first postseason appearance following several seasons of disappointing finishes in Anaheim. Ohtani and the Dodgers captured their first championship since 2020, fulfilling Ohtani’s lifelong dream.

Roberts won’t let Shohei Ohtani pitch until May

A topic that emerged during the interview between Kuriyama and Roberts was the potential timeline for Ohtani’s return to the mound.

“I won’t let him pitch until May,” Roberts said.

Last season, Roberts faced a similar scenario with Walker Buehler, who was coming off Tommy John surgery. Buehler was on schedule to make a return at some point in 2024.

Roberts and the Dodgers were careful with Buehler, ramping up his throwing to the point where he returned to the mound in June. While Buehler struggled at times during the regular season, he was integral in getting the Dodgers through the postseason.

In the end, Buehler recorded the save in Game 5 of the World Series. As such, the Dodgers expect to take a similar approach with Shohei Ohtani.

With Los Angeles assembling a strong rotation that already boasts former Cy Young winner Blake Snell and could add another Japanese sensation, Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers have no need to rush Ohtani back.

If and when Ohtani returns to the mound, the team must decide if it will be as a starter or perhaps out of the back end of the bullpen. That’s a decision Roberts and the Dodgers training staff will need to make based on Ohtani’s recovery.

In the meantime, fans hope to see a reprise of Ohtani’s historic 50/50 season as the Dodgers look to become back-to-back World Series champions.