Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani He was removed early from Saturday’s win over the San Diego Padres because “his back tightened,” according to manager Dave Roberts.
While Roberts said his level of immediate concern was “minimal,” he was leaning toward giving the club’s $700 million offseason contract the day off. The Dodgers plan to see how Ohtani feels Sunday morning before making a decision.
Ohtani went 0 for 3 with a walk in the Dodgers victory 5-0recording his final out on a seemingly routine two-hop off the pitcher in the seventh inning.
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However, when Ohtani’s place in the order came up in the ninth, Kiké Hernández walked to the plate as a pinch-hitter.
“I was told before his fourth at-bat that his back tightened,” Roberts said. “Being 5-0, we didn’t want to put more pressure on it. So we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”
Through a Dodgers public relations official, Ohtani declined to speak to reporters after the win.
While Roberts described the decision to remove Ohtani as “precautionary,” any injury involving the two-time MVP will set off alarm bells for the organization.
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Ohtani, 29, has been the Dodgers’ best player this season, batting .352 (second in the majors) with 11 home runs (tied for fourth), 27 RBI (tied for 13th) and leading the Major Leagues. 1,090 OPS.
Ohtani has also missed just one game so far this year, a routine day off on May 1 during the team’s trip to Arizona.
The two-way star has been rehabilitating his pitching elbow after Tommy John surgery last year, including an every-other-day throwing program that began in late March. However, Ohtani has repeatedly said that the ailment has no effect on his swing.
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This story originally appeared on Los Angeles Times.