Shohei Ohtani was absent from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup on Tuesday night following his return from a four-day break due to persistent injuries. On Monday, Ohtani went 0 for 3, striking out twice and walking once as the designated hitter in a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained that although Ohtani emerged from the game in good condition, the decision was made to ease him back into action gradually after consulting with the training staff. Ohtani has been dealing with soreness in his left knee and right biceps and will not pitch again this season, focusing solely on hitting. He was available to pinch-hit against the Reds, with expectations to return to the lineup on Wednesday. In his absence, Tommy Edman took over in center field, and Freddie Freeman served as the designated hitter as the Dodgers aimed for their fifth consecutive win.
QUESTION: How might Ohtani’s decision to focus solely on hitting impact his career and the team’s performance in the long run?
Dodgers sit Shohei Ohtani to ‘build him up slowly’ after 2-strikeout return
