The physical strain could be catching up with MLB’s biggest superstar.
Dodgers two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani, while still pacing a Los Angeles team tied for MLB’s best record entering Wednesday’s games, is seeing an on-field downturn largely unprecedented in his legendary nine-year career. Among the latest developments:
Ohtani has not pitched in a game since July 3, and a timetable to the mound remains uncertain. After getting his left knee drained over the All-Star break, forcing him to miss the Midsummer Classic, pain is not only still there, but is now joined by discomfort in his right bicep. The ongoing pitching absence has entirely derailed prior conversation from the spring about Ohtani being in the mix for this year’s National League Cy Young Award.
At the plate, Ohtani in July is closing out what could be his worst offensive month in nearly six years—even after getting three hits, including a home run, and a walk on Tuesday. Since MLB play resumed after the All-Star Game, Ohtani is hitting just .238 with that lone homer.
Ohtani remains the betting favorite to win the NL Most Valuable Player Award for a third consecutive season, but Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has closed the gap considerably in recent weeks. As Ohtani has slumped and Crow-Armstrong has surged, their offensive statistics are now essentially equal, while Crow-Armstrong has a higher figure for wins over replacement (WAR). Ohtani is now playing only as a designated hitter, while Crow-Armstrong is an elite defensive player at a premium position.
