"Shohei Ohtani said, 'Oh, it hurts, oh, it hurts'"- Dodgers manager reveals how he got inspired by Freddie Freeman to play with injury

LA Dodgers 50/50 man Shohei Ohtani played through a painful injury, manager Dave Roberts revealed.

In a Japanese-language interview published on Sunday, Roberts talked about the shoulder injury Ohtani sustained during Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees.

During the game, Ohtani attempted to steal second base. However, he slid awkwardly into the base, dislocating his left shoulder. The injury required surgery during the offseason. Roberts recalled Ohtani’s reaction during batting practice, stating:

“Oh, it hurts, oh, it hurts.”

Ohtani was unable to swing, prompting Roberts to tape up Ohtani’s shoulder. When the pain persisted, Roberts insisted:

“Wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t play?”

But, according to Roberts, Ohtani wasn’t having any of it. Ohtani insisted on playing, reportedly saying:

“I’m going to play no matter what happens, I’m going to play. If this was the regular season, I would stop. But this is the World Series.”

Per Roberts, Ohtani was inspired to keep playing after seeing first baseman Freddie Freeman go through a serious injury himself. Freeman injured his ankle during the National League Championship Series, returning to win the World Series MVP.

That example prompted Ohtani to push through the pain and continue playing. The Dodgers won the World Series in five games, giving Ohtani a championship in his first postseason appearance.

Shohei Ohtani resumes batting practice following surgery

Shohei Ohtani has reportedly resumed taking swings following offseason shoulder surgery. The news was confirmed by Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes and reported by Japanese news outlet Kyodo News on Sunday.

The report stated that Ohtani has been making significant progress since surgery following his shoulder injury during the World Series. While Ohtani has yet to hit balls, his progress seems to be ahead of schedule.

Per the news piece, Ohtani hopes to get back on the mound in 2025, resuming his role as a two-way player.

But as Roberts has indicated, Ohtani will have to wait a bit longer before he can start throwing. Roberts stated during his Japanese-language interview that Ohtani would not pitch until May.

Those comments suggest that the Dodgers plan to ramp Ohtani up much the way they did Walker Buehler last season. As such, fans will need to be patient before Ohtani steps on a Major League mound.

If Buehler's progress is any indication, Ohtani could return to the mound at some point in late May or early June. It’s worth pointing out that the Dodgers are in no rush to get Ohtani pitching again.

So the team can take its time to ensure Ohtani is fully ready to resume pitching at the Big League level.