“He’s going to hand the ball off. He’s being brought out mid-at-bat. That is eyebrow-raising,” the commentator’s words hung heavy in the Cincinnati air on July 30, 2025, as Shohei Ohtani, the game’s two-way wonder, walked off the mound. And it was against the Reds too, the very team he was playing against when he had to exit in 2023 as well. For many, it was a chilling case of déjà vu.
The drama unfolded in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ohtani’s command had been shaky. He opened it by surrendering a leadoff single to Noelvi Marte. And then things really got away from him against Tyler Stephenson. It was followed by a four-pitch walk, with two of the pitches not even close to the plate. The breakdown continued against Spencer Steer, with two more balls making it six in a row. Manager Dave Roberts had seen enough by then, and he decided to end Ohtani’s night as a pitcher.
As Ohtani came out, a wave of concern swept through social media. And, the warning bells got even louder after an X post from ESPN’s Jeff Passan. “Shohei Ohtani has left his start in the middle of an at-bat,” Passan wrote, further adding that Ohtani had just thrown six consecutive balls, two of which were “yanked fastballs that were wild pitches.” Now, the baseball world is holding its breath.
Shohei Ohtani has left his start in the middle of an at-bat after throwing six consecutive balls, two of which were yanked fastballs that were wild pitches. pic.twitter.com/2sR6Tt3W0Y
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2025
However, the panic soon began to subside when the Dodgers provided a quick official explanation for his departure: “cramps.” Later, SportsNet LA’s sideline reporter, Kirsten Watson, revealed what she saw. “In between the fourth and fifth inning, Dave Roberts and the training staff…all followed him down into the tunnel,” Watson reported. “And as soon as they came back up, there was a clear sense of relief.”
Ohtani, after he came off, didn’t vanish into the clubhouse for the remainder of the night. Instead, he grabbed a bat. The superstar remained in the game as the designated hitter. He even took an at-bat in the sixth inning, striking out looking against Reds pitcher Nick Martinez, and ultimately finished the game 0-for-5. The Dodgers eventually won, 5-4. Relief pitcher Anthony Banda replaced Ohtani on the mound. Though he allowed one of Ohtani’s runners to score, the bullpen held on for the rest of the game.
For a player like Ohtani, every twinge is magnified. It raises questions about his workload and future.
Ohtani’s history of pushing the limits
It’s not the first time Ohtani’s body has issued a warning. But this particular incident invoked haunting memories of his August 23, 2023, outing, which was also against the Reds. That day, he departed with “arm fatigue.” An MRI ultimately delivered the crushing verdict: a torn UCL that needed his second Tommy John operation. That injury followed a string of smaller incidents, ranging from cramps to a cracked fingernail.
Even in the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series run, Ohtani faced adversity. He experienced a left shoulder subluxation during a stolen base in Game 2. It was on his non-throwing arm, and he played through the injury as designated hitter the rest of the series. In November 2024, he had surgery to fix a torn labrum.
So, every time he goes out mid-way, it sends a reminder of the physical toll his two-way quest exacts. Veteran players and analysts have been vocal about the unprecedented challenge Ohtani faces. Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz highlighted the core of the issue: “Starting pitchers focus on resting and recovering…However, Ohtani stands at the plate every day and has to expend energy every day… This is the dilemma of a two-way player.”
Back in 2023, even Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez had expressed concerns. He referred to the high level of stress Ohtani’s mechanics put on his arm. Martinez was concerned that his ligaments might not be “mature enough to hold for an entire season.”
These warnings from game’s greats illustrate the tightrope Ohtani walks every time he steps onto the mound. His journey continues to redefine expectations!
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