The shoulder injury that Shohei Ohtani played through in the World Series was serious enough to require surgery.
The Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed as much Tuesday when they announced Ohtani underwent a successful operation to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder.
The tear, which was not previously public knowledge, resulted from the shoulder dislocation Ohtani suffered on an awkward slide in Game 2 against the Yankees.
The right-handed Ohtani left that game in visible pain, but he played in Games 3, 4 and 5 as the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in five games to win the World Series.
Ohtani, 30, is expected to be ready for spring training after the surgery, which was performed Tuesday in Los Angeles by renowned head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Dodgers said.
The injury occurred as Ohtani was caught attempting to steal second base in the seventh inning of Game 2.
Before Game 3, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that an MRI did not reveal any structural damage to Ohtani’s shoulder.
After Game 3, Ohtani was asked about the possibility that he would need surgery.
“I haven’t had further conversations about the future plan,” Ohtani said at the time through an interpreter. “I think it’s something that’s going to happen after the season is over, do additional testing. But in terms of how I feel now, I don’t think so.”
Ohtani went just 2-for-19 without a home run or RBI in the World Series. He went 1-for-11 with a walk after injuring his shoulder.
“Initially, I wasn’t really exactly sure [what happened],” Ohtani said after Game 3. “I was really concerned about whether I was safe or out. It was only when I went back inside where we had to figure out what it was. The pain has subsided, so I felt pretty good about it.”
The labrum tear is the second significant injury that Ohtani will attempt to return from next season. The two-way sensation did not pitch this year as he recovered from a September 2023 operation for a tear in his right elbow.
After spending his first six MLB seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, the Japanese-born Ohtani joined the Dodgers in December on a record-setting 10-year, $700 million contract featuring heavily deferred money.
He is expected to win his third MVP Award after hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases in what was the first 50-50 season in MLB history.
