close
close

Why playing World Series Game 3 was “a given” for Shohei Ohtani

Why playing World Series Game 3 was “a given” for Shohei Ohtani

As Shohei Ohtani left Dodger Stadium on Saturday night to undergo an examination of his partially dislocated shoulder, Miguel Rojas sent him a text message wishing him well. In response, Ohtani sent Rojas a song.

The song was about Ohtani.

“A fan made a song for him,” Rojas recalled with a laugh.

The veteran shortstop played the composition on the Dodgers bus heading to Los Angeles International Airport.

“Everyone really loved the song,” Rojas said.

Ohtani also made a point to write in the players-only group chat that he would be available to play when the World Series resumed at Yankee Stadium two days later.

“I didn’t want to weaken the team’s morale,” Ohtani said in Japanese.

Ohtani kept his promise and the Dodgers kept their October magic, picking up a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 3 on Monday night, increasing their series lead to three games to zero.

Ohtani was obviously in pain.

He winced as he swung the bat.

He constructed a makeshift sling to protect his injured shoulder as he was on base, clutching the collar of his gray road uniform.

He wore a splint that kept the joint warm between plate appearances.

But his contribution to the victory was more than symbolic. He started the game with a four-pitch walk against Yankees starter Clake Schmidt. Later in the inning, he scored on Freddie Freeman's two-run home run.

Ohtani singled in the third inning, but Tommy Edman moved to second base on the play, positioning Edman to score on a single by Mookie Betts.

Ohtani reached base again in the ninth inning when Yankees closer Luke Weaver clipped his back foot with a cutting fastball.

As much as Ohtani revealed about himself during the game, he remained his typically reserved demeanor in his postgame press conference.

He wouldn't even admit he was hurt.

“I don’t remember much of what happened at bats,” Ohtani said. “I don't know to what extent it's visible on my face that it hurts or doesn't hurt, but I haven't thought much about it.”

Asked if it hurt him more to swing the bat or run the bases, he paused for a moment before saying, “During the game, I don't think about whether it hurts or not, so I play.” with the “feeling that I’m not hurt.”

He said that when he was injured while caught stealing second base in the seventh inning of the Dodgers' Game 2 win, his first concern was to hang on to the ball.

“I thought I was safe,” he said.

Ohtani downplayed his efforts to play.

“It’s obvious to prepare for the game,” he said.

Shohei Ohtani stands in the dugout during the third inning in Game 3 of the World Series.

Shohei Ohtani stands in the dugout during the third inning in Game 3 of the World Series.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Ohtani referenced how Freeman dealt with a sprained ankle and explained that he simply did what many of his teammates did.

“Not everyone always plays in the best conditions,” he said. “There are a lot of players who play in pain.”

If anything, Ohtani said he was grateful he injured his left shoulder instead of his right, as he suspected an injury to the front shoulder would have made hitting more difficult.

“I think it’s a blessing in disguise,” he said.

Ohtani played with his shoulder taped. He said he completed the bases with his arm held to his chest because “if I slip and my left hand makes the same motion it did when I was injured, it could dislocate again in my current condition.” So it should be prevented.”

Asked if his injury would require offseason surgery, he replied: “I wonder. We haven’t really talked about that yet.”

Ohtani said he expects to be examined again after the World Series.

“At this point,” he said, “I don’t think it’s a problem.”

While Ohtani maintained a calm facade, his teammates were clearly excited by his presence.

“Super happy he’s OK,” Betts said. “The most important thing is that he is fine. His presence in the lineup is so big.”

To get to Betts' point: Ohtani partially dislocated his shoulder or not, he intimidated Schmidt into making him run four pitches early in the game.

“Shohei is a player who got his first chance to play in the playoffs and it would be really hard to see him go down before we see him do something really special,” Rojas said. “He deserves to be in the lineup.”

Roberts said he will be “in there” for Game 4.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *