Shohei Ohtani’s fitness has become a major talking point among Los Angeles Dodgers fans, with manager Dave Roberts facing criticism for keeping the struggling superstar in the lineup despite his ongoing injury concerns.
Ohtani has been managing knee and biceps issues since at least June. The Dodgers ended his pitching program in July, and he later spent time on the injured list. He has continued to play as a designated hitter, but his recent slump has added to concerns about his physical condition. He has not hit a home run since August, and his struggles have continued into the postseason. Another fan questioned the decision to place Ohtani at the top of the batting order, writing, “By the way, leading off with an injured #Ohtani is a really stupid idea. Prove wrong Shohei! #Dodgers #NLCS” Others have argued that the responsibility should rest with the manager, not the player. One commenter wrote, “Every player is going to say they’re good to go it’s Dave’s job as manager to be the adult and make the hard decisions. Roberts has maintained that Ohtani believes he can contribute despite the injury concerns.
Ohtani’s recent hitting numbers have fallen well below his usual level, according to MLB.com. “Dave Roberts putting a injured shohei ohtani in the lineup ,” one user wrote. Speaking about their conversation before an earlier game, the manager said Ohtani was adamant that he could help the team win.
