Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way star, left his start against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday due to cramps. He departed the mound mid-at-bat in the fourth inning after throwing six straight balls, including two wild pitches, but remained in the lineup to bat as the designated hitter in the sixth inning, where he struck out looking.
Performance and Pitching Details Before Early Removal
Before leaving his pitching duties, Ohtani completed three innings, allowing one run on five hits and issuing one walk. He struck out four of the 15 batters he faced. According to Statcast data, Ohtani’s average fastball velocity during the outing was 98.7 mph, which exceeded his season average by 0.8 mph. His final five pitches were all fastballs, consistently clocking at 96 mph or higher, with the last three surpassing 97.6 mph.
Context on Ohtani’s Recovery and Pitching Workload
At 31 years old, Ohtani is making his seventh pitching appearance since returning from elbow surgery that sidelined him for the previous season. Over his prior six outings, he pitched 12 innings with a 1.50 ERA and a 4.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Dodgers have managed his workload cautiously, initially limiting him to one inning per appearance, then gradually increasing to two innings, and most recently three innings per outing.
Offensive Contributions and Contract Status
Alongside his pitching, Ohtani’s hitting remains strong. Entering Wednesday’s game, he held a batting line of .272/.377/.612 with 38 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases from 17 attempts. According to Baseball Reference, his offensive production has contributed roughly 4.5 Wins Above Replacement during his first 106 games. Ohtani is currently in the second year of a 10-year, $700 million contract signed with the Dodgers in December 2023.
Team Standing and Outlook
The Dodgers came into the matchup holding a 63-45 record, leading the National League West by four games. Monitoring Ohtani’s health will be critical for the team’s postseason ambitions as they balance his pitching and hitting roles going forward in the season.