Ohtani’s All-Star Absence: Dodgers Manage Two-Way Star’s Knee Concerns
Shohei Ohtani ruled out of MLB All – Baseball’s most recognizable face will sit out Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Shohei Ohtani has been officially scratched from his scheduled Friday start, and the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that the two-way sensation will also miss the Midsummer Classic. The organization described the condition as left knee irritation, a nagging issue that has been monitored throughout the campaign.
For obvious reasons, Ohtani has become a permanent fixture at the All-Star Game. He has earned selection honors in each of the past five seasons, establishing himself as one of the game’s premier talents. His first All-Star start came in 2021, and since then he has been a cornerstone of the event every year.
Historic MVP Trajectory Continues
The two-way phenom is currently on a path toward winning his fifth MVP award within his last six seasons. His offensive numbers remain impressive, as he is batting .290 with a .939 OPS. On the mound, Ohtani has posted a minuscule 1.79 ERA, which ranks as the second-lowest in all of baseball among pitchers who have thrown 80-plus innings. His OPS also sits at the seventh-best mark in the entire league.
The Dodgers have outlined their plan for Ohtani moving forward. He will serve as the team’s designated hitter up until the All-Star break. After that, he will “have some interventions on his knee to put him in the best position for the second half of the season.” This approach suggests the organization wants to manage the injury carefully rather than rush his return.
Knee issues are not entirely new for Ohtani this year. He dealt with similar problems earlier in the season, making this a recurring concern that the medical staff is tracking closely. The timing of his absence is certainly a significant blow to the All-Star Game. The other face of the sport, Aaron Judge, will also miss the game due to a fractured rib that has kept him sidelined since late May.
Offensive Dominance and Historical Milestones
During the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined, Ohtani hit 99 home runs, demonstrating his continued power at the plate. In that span, he led the National League with a 1.025 OPS. His consistency across multiple seasons has placed him in rare company historically.
The “Japanese Babe Ruth” holds a unique place in MLB history. He is the only player ever to record 300-plus plate appearances and 40-plus innings pitched in six separate seasons. Babe Ruth himself accomplished this feat only twice during his legendary career, and he never managed to steal 50 bases in a single season. Ohtani has not only matched Ruth’s dual-threat capabilities but has surpassed them in many ways.
While Ohtani is not hitting with the same ferocity as he has in previous years, his pitching performance this season stands as the best of his career. He has “only” accumulated 20 home runs and 56 RBI this season, but his work on the mound more than compensates for the modest offensive totals. His strikeout rate of 11.9 per nine innings matches what he posted in 2022, a figure that led the American League that year.
Ohtani did not pitch at all in 2024 following elbow surgery, but he returned to the mound last year with a 2.87 ERA. His ability to excel at both hitting and pitching simultaneously continues to redefine what is possible in modern baseball.
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