The face of Major League Baseball will be absent from Tuesday's All-Star Game as Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has been scratched from the event due to left knee irritation, the team confirmed Friday. Ohtani, who has been a fixture at the Midsummer Classic for five consecutive seasons, will instead focus on managing the nagging injury to ensure he is ready for the second half of the season.
The Dodgers announced that Ohtani will continue serving as the team's designated hitter through the All-Star break but will undergo what the club described as «some interventions on his knee to put him in the best position for the second half of the season.» The decision marks a significant blow to the All-Star Game, which will also be without New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge, who has been sidelined since late May with a fractured rib.
Ohtani, widely regarded as the most dynamic player in baseball, has earned All-Star honors in each of the past five seasons, making his first start in 2021. The two-way phenom is on track to win his fifth Most Valuable Player award in the last six seasons, posting a.290 batting average with a.939 OPS at the plate while dominating on the mound with a 1.79 ERA, the second-lowest among pitchers with 80 or more innings this season. His OPS ranks seventh in the league, underscoring his elite offensive production.
The 31-year-old has dealt with knee issues earlier in the season, and the team's cautious approach reflects their priority on keeping him healthy for a deep postseason run. Ohtani has been a driving force for the Dodgers, who are defending their World Series championship. He has hit 20 home runs and driven in 56 runs this season, numbers that, while slightly below his historic pace, remain impressive given his dual role as a pitcher and hitter.
Over the past two seasons, Ohtani has combined for 99 home runs, leading the National League with a 1.025 OPS during that span. After undergoing elbow surgery that sidelined him from pitching in 2024, he returned to the mound last year and posted a 2.87 ERA with an 11.9 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate, matching his 2022 mark that led the American League. His ability to excel at both hitting and pitching has drawn comparisons to Babe Ruth, though Ohtani has surpassed the legendary slugger in several statistical categories.
Ohtani is the only player in MLB history to record 300 or more plate appearances and 40 or more innings pitched in six separate seasons. Ruth achieved the feat only twice and never stole 50 bases in a season, a milestone Ohtani has reached multiple times. This season, Ohtani's pitching has been particularly outstanding, with a career-best ERA that has made him one of the most feared arms in the game.
The Dodgers have not specified the exact nature of the knee interventions, but the team is expected to provide updates after the All-Star break. Ohtani's absence from the All-Star Game is a disappointment for fans who were eager to see him share the stage with other stars, but the organization's cautious approach underscores the value they place on his long-term health and the team's championship aspirations.
With Ohtani and Judge both sidelined, the All-Star Game will lack two of its biggest draws, but the event will still feature a roster of elite talent from both leagues. The Dodgers, meanwhile, will look to maintain their momentum in the second half as they aim to repeat as World Series champions, with Ohtani's health playing a central role in their plans.
