Knee injury forces Ohtani to withdraw from All-Star Game; drainage procedure planned

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has withdrawn from the Major League Baseball All-Star Game due to ongoing pain in his left knee. He will also miss his scheduled start in the final game of the first half.

Ohtani is slated to undergo a procedure to drain fluid from his left knee following the Dodgers' three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which concludes on July 13. The team had initially planned for him to pitch on July 11, but opted for a bullpen day to prevent further aggravation of his knee condition. Reports indicate Ohtani has been dealing with the knee issue for at least a month.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that Ohtani has managed the situation well and will focus on rest and treatment during the All-Star break. Despite the knee pain, Ohtani will continue to play as a designated hitter in the remaining games of the first half. He has been managing the injury for at least a month.

Ohtani was leading the league in fan All-Star votes and was set to make his sixth career All-Star appearance as a National League designated hitter. This season, he has performed exceptionally as both a pitcher, with an 8-2 record and a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, and as a hitter, batting .290 with 20 home runs and 56 RBIs. However, his pitching performance has dipped recently, with a 4.38 ERA in his last four starts compared to a 0.74 ERA in his first 10.

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Ohtani has managed this situation quite well. He will rest and focus on his knee treatment during the All-Star break.