Shohei Ohtani injury update: Japanese superstar avoids injury scare as X-rays come back negative after HBP

Sunday’s game ended in a 3-1 win for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. However, the victory came with a significant injury scare for Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.

In the eighth inning, Ohtani, facing the Rays’ Richard Lovelady, was hit by a pitch after going 2-0. After the collision, he was seen holding his left hand and wrist. Despite being visibly in pain, he decided to remain in the game.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning on Enrique Hernandez’s 395-foot homer. In the eighth inning, Ohtani helped score a run on Mookie Betts’ 387-foot shot after getting hit. Betts hit a two-run homer, extending the Dodgers' lead to 3-1, which led to their victory.

After the game, Ohtani underwent an MRI to check the severity of his injury. Fortunately for the Dodgers, the results came back negative, and he should be fine to play for the rest of the season, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times.

Ohtani has a batting average of .292 and a .994 OPS so far in the 2024 season. He has hit 41 home runs, driven in 94 RBIs and stolen 40 bases in 128 games played for the Dodgers.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opens up about Shohei Ohtani’s injury

The Los Angeles Dodgers have faced several injuries this season, including to Mookie Betts, who was hit by a pitch. Betts suffered a left hand fracture and was sidelined for almost two months.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke about the injury scare regarding Ohtani, saying:

"Ohtani's OK. I think they took some scans and I heard they were negative. He's fine… It's really scary. You always hold your breath. We experienced that with Mookie a few months ago. And obviously with Shohei, a ball coming in."

"Fortunately it hit him on the forearm. But when you start talking about little bones in the hand and things like that 4-6 weeks this time of year, that's a scary one," Roberts added.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, with 78 wins and 53 losses, are leading the NL West with a .595 winning percentage. They are set to start their three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.