Ohtani's Resilience Displayed as He Plays Through Shoulder Injury in World Series

he was ready to play.

Ohtani kept his spot in the batting order as the designated hitter for Game 3, leading off the game by walking and scoring on a home run by Freddie Freeman. Despite this, Ohtani struggled during the game, going 0 for 3 with a walk and being hit by a pitch, and continued to show signs of discomfort in his swings, bringing his Series batting average down to 1 for 11.

The injury resulted from a slide into second base while trying to steal during Game 2 and was addressed by the Dodgers' athletic training staff, which managed to put his shoulder back into place. An MRI later confirmed there was no structural damage.

Ohtani expressed uncertainty about the need for eventual surgery, stating that more testing would occur after the season concluded. Max Muncy, a teammate, mentioned that Ohtani sent his text in English, showing his determination to be back on the field. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, unaware of the message until later, smiled and joked that it would have helped him sleep better had he been included in the chat.

Despite showing physical limitations, Ohtani took some swings in a batting cage before Game 3, hitting the ball at high velocity, which boosted Roberts' spirits. The manager acknowledged the risk of recurrence with a separated shoulder, indicating that Ohtani likely wouldn’t attempt any more stolen bases during the Series. Ohtani, who has had a historically impressive season, continues to be a focal point despite the setbacks he faces in this postseason.