Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) gestures after hitting a foul ball against the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park on July 29. Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Shohei Ohtani Leaves Dodgers' Game With Possible Injury

Originally posted on Los Angeles Dodgers on SI
By J.P. Hoornstra | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 8:14 PM ET

Shohei Ohtani was removed from the Dodgers' game Wednesday in Cincinnati with an apparent injury in the fourth inning.

Ohtani allowed the Reds' only run in the first inning, then was cruising until the very end of his outing, which ended with him leaving the mound with manager Dave Roberts and an athletic trainer. He threw six consecutive balls before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Ohtani bequeathed a first-and-third, no-out situation to reliever Anthony Banda with the Dodgers holding a 2-1 lead over the Reds.

Shohei Ohtani has left his start in the middle of an at-bat after throwing six consecutive balls, two of which were yanked fastballs that were wild pitches. pic.twitter.com/2sR6Tt3W0Y
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2025

Banda immediately allowed a sacrifice fly to Will Benson that allowed Noelvi Marte to tag up and score from third base, beating Andy Pages' throw from center field. But he got out of the inning without allowing further damage, keeping the game tied at 2.

Ohtani threw 51 pitches in completing three innings, allowing five hits and two runs, walking two batters and striking out four.

These were Shohei Ohtani's last six pitches before he came out of the game with a trainer pic.twitter.com/yp38l0dnDy
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 31, 2025

The Dodgers were hoping Ohtani would finish four innings before turning the game over to Emmet Sheehan. The right-hander is serving as a long reliever in a piggyback role as he works his way back from 2024 elbow surgery.

With a game-time temperature of 90 degrees and 56 percent humidity forecast for Cincinnati, the possibility of any player suffering a cramp related to dehydration is high. That would be the best-case scenario for Ohtani and the Dodgers, who have handled their two-way star with extreme caution in his return to pitching this year.

Ohtani, the 2024 National League MVP, had increased his workload from one inning in each of his first two starts, to two innings in his next two, and three innings in his next two (including Wednesday).

As the Dodgers' DH and leadoff hitter, Ohtani is leading the National League in slugging percentage (.612), runs (100), home runs (38) and OPS (.989). He was cleared to at least stand in the on-deck circle in the fifth inning, raising the possibility he will bat for himself in the sixth inning and stay in the game.

He entered Wednesday's game with a .272 batting average, .377 on-base percentage, and 73 RBIs.

More to come on this story.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Dodgers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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