Ohtani Returns Strong
Shohei Ohtani Returns to Dodgers Lineup, Hits Leadoff Homer After Knee Issue
Shohei Ohtani wasted no time proving his knee was fine. The Los Angeles Dodgers star hit a leadoff home run on the second pitch of Saturday's game against the Chicago White Sox — a 409-foot blast off right-hander Sean Burke — marking his 14th homer of the season, according to AP News.
Ohtani had been held out of Friday's lineup after leaving a game in Pittsburgh with inflammation behind his left knee. Imaging in Chicago showed no structural damage — just what doctors called "normal wear and tear," Sports Illustrated reported. The Dodgers lost that Friday game 8-2 without him.
How the Knee Injury Happened in Pittsburgh
The scare started Thursday night, June 11. Ohtani had reached base all four times he came to the plate — including his 13th homer of the year — but left the game in the 7th inning. He told trainers he felt "discomfort" behind his left knee, AP News reported. The cause was never pinpointed. Manager Dave Roberts admitted, "We don't know how it happened, he doesn't know," per Sports Illustrated.
The left knee carries extra significance for Ohtani. As a right-handed pitcher, his left leg is his "drive leg" — it powers his delivery. He also had surgery on that same knee back in 2019 with the Angels to fix a bone condition called a bipartite patella, according to Dodger Blue. That history explains why the Dodgers moved fast to get imaging done.
Ohtani Passes His Own Test Saturday Morning
Before Saturday's game, Ohtani went to the outfield and played catch to test the knee himself. He cleared that informal check and was penciled in as the leadoff designated hitter. Roberts said on Saturday: "Yesterday, treated it up, today he feels great. All the confidence that he can go out there and hit, feel good, not regress at all," per Click2Houston.
The homer backed up those words. Ohtani's 14th home run of the season left his bat at 109.6 mph and traveled 409 feet, according to MLB Stories. It was also the 29th leadoff homer of his career and his 5th of the 2026 season.
Ohtani on Track to Pitch Wednesday Against Tampa Bay
The Dodgers' bigger concern was whether Ohtani could stay on schedule as a pitcher. Roberts confirmed Saturday that Ohtani is set to take the mound Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to FOX Sports. Justin Wrobleski — who also left the Pittsburgh game after taking a line drive off his leg — is scheduled to start Tuesday against Tampa Bay as well.
Keeping both healthy matters. The Dodgers are also currently without starters Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, both on the injured list, per Athlon Sports. That thin rotation depth makes Ohtani's availability as an ace more critical heading into the second half of the season.
Ohtani's 2026 Numbers Are Historic on Both Sides
This injury scare arrived in the middle of one of Ohtani's best all-around seasons. Through June 13, he is batting .307 with 14 home runs and 41 RBIs. On the mound, he holds a 6-2 record, a 1.06 ERA, and 73 strikeouts in just 67.2 innings, according to AP News. That ERA ranks among the best in all of baseball.
The Dodgers hold an eight-game lead in the NL West. Analysts from The Athletic noted the team was "incentivized to play it safe" in mid-June, with October as the real target. A brief rest now, they argued, is worth far more than risking a longer absence later.
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