Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will not take the mound Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, as the team announced he has been removed from his scheduled start due to persistent irritation in his left knee.
The four-time MVP, who plays both as a pitcher and a hitter, will shift to the designated hitter role for the remainder of the weekend series rather than pitching.
In addition to missing Friday’s start, the 32-year-old will not travel to Philadelphia to participate in the MLB All-Star Game, which he had been set to appear in.
Following the conclusion of the Diamondbacks series, Ohtani is expected to undergo some unspecified “interventions” on his knee, with the goal of having him fully ready to contribute when the second half of the season gets underway.
