Ohtani to have knee drained during All-Star break, could return as pitcher in second half

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, who withdrew from the All-Star Game due to a left knee injury, will undergo a procedure to drain fluid from the knee during the All-Star break.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Saturday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles that Ohtani would not be able to play in the All-Star Game but would use the break to have the knee drained and recover. "If he gets enough rest, he should be able to return as a pitcher in the second half," Roberts said.

Roberts added that the exact timeline for Ohtani's return remained unclear, noting that Ohtani could technically take the mound even without the procedure. "We're taking a proactive step to make sure he's in peak condition after October," when the postseason begins, Roberts said.

The Dodgers announced Saturday morning that Ohtani was withdrawing from the All-Star Game due to left knee pain and would focus on treatment during the break.

The club also said Ohtani would not start on the mound in Saturday's home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks as originally scheduled, instead serving solely as the designated hitter batting first.

Ohtani still made his presence felt at Dodger Stadium, hitting a solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the first inning and finishing 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Ohtani said his goal was to get back on the mound on a normal schedule. "I could have started today, but I didn't want to push it," he said. "It's important to use the All-Star break to get my body right and rejoin the starting rotation as soon as possible."

MLB.com reported that Ohtani had been pitching through left knee pain since at least June 12. Beyond the knee, he had also dealt with a right biceps injury and a blister on his right hand, yet continued to perform as both a pitcher and a hitter.

This season, Ohtani has made 14 starts on the mound, going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA, while at the plate he is batting .290 with 21 home runs, 57 RBIs and an OPS of .943 across 90 games.

He had also earned the most fan votes across both leagues in All-Star balloting and was named the National League's starting designated hitter — what would have been his sixth All-Star appearance — before the injury forced him to withdraw.

The All-Star Game is scheduled for Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, home of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers lost to Arizona 3-9 on Saturday.