Ohtani undergoes shoulder surgery, expected to be ready for spring

SAN ANTONIO -- Shohei Ohtani underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, the Dodgers announced on Tuesday. The team expects him to be ready in time for Spring Training.

Ohtani sustained the injury, which was to his non-throwing shoulder, on an attempted steal of second base during Game 2 of the World Series. The Dodgers initially described the injury as a subluxation, or a partial dislocation. The procedure to repair the resulting labrum tear was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.

Despite the injury, Ohtani was in the lineup for Games 3-5 of the World Series and went 1-for-11 with a walk and a run scored. He looked uncomfortable while swinging at times and supported his left shoulder by holding onto his jersey.

At the time, Ohtani said the injury did not impact his swing much because his left shoulder was hurt rather than his right one.

“We've asked him many times over, and it's not impeding,” manager Dave Roberts said on Oct. 29. “He doesn't feel it. I just think it's the chase. You see it. There's some big at-bats that could result in a walk, and not taking the base and chasing hasn't been good.”

A World Series ring capped a phenomenal year for Ohtani, who put together an unprecedented power-speed season by becoming the founding member of the 50-50 club, ending the year with 54 homers and 59 stolen bases. He's the clear favorite to take home his third MVP Award -- his first in the National League -- in his first season since joining the Dodgers on a record-setting 10-year, $700 million contract.

Ohtani will also have the chance to reestablish himself as a two-way superstar when he returns to the mound next year. The 30-year-old right-hander spent 2024 rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery and did not pitch all season. He went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA across 23 starts when he last appeared as a pitcher with the Angels in '23.