Shohei Ohtani Exits Game with Knee Inflammation: Latest Updates

Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ global superstar, faced an unexpected setback as he exited Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to left knee inflammation. Just as Ohtani was hitting his stride, showcasing his dual-threat capabilities, the injury struck, forcing him to leave the game in the seventh inning.

Ohtani had already made an impact, hitting his fifth home run in just 13 games earlier in the contest. With the Dodgers leading 6-4 and two runners on base, he was replaced by pinch-hitter Santiago Espinal. Prior to his exit, Ohtani not only went deep in the third inning but also drew a two-out walk in the fifth, although he didn’t have to run the bases as Andy Pages struck out to end the inning.

The 32-year-old, who will celebrate his birthday on July 5, had recently resumed his two-way role after Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sought to manage his workload this season. Ohtani had pitched 6⅔ innings the night before, allowing three earned runs and maintaining an impressive 1.06 ERA.

Since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery following an injury during the 2024 World Series, Ohtani has been largely healthy and was gearing up for a return to full pitching duties in 2025 after recovering from a second Tommy John surgery. He had taken on a full-time starter’s role during the latter half of the 2025 season, playing in 158 games and pitching in Game 7 of the World Series.

While he started this season slowly in terms of power, Ohtani has found his rhythm, now boasting 13 home runs in 63 games, along with a .305 batting average and a .940 OPS. As fans and teammates await further updates on his condition, the Dodgers will be looking to maintain their momentum in his absence.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.