By Rory Carroll
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Shohei Ohtani injured his left shoulder while attempting to steal second base in the World Series on Saturday, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he was “encouraged” by what he had heard from his training staff after the game.
Ohtani used his left arm for support as he slid feet first into the base in the seventh inning and after being called out, writhed in pain while clutching his arm before leaving the field with the help of a trainer.
“He had a little left shoulder subluxation so we’re going to get some tests at some point tonight, tomorrow, and then we’ll know more in the next couple days,” Roberts told reporters.
“But the strength was great. The range of motion good. So we’re encouraged. But obviously I can’t speculate because we don’t get the scans yet.
“So once we get the scans, we’ll know more. Again, with the strength, the range of motion good, that’s certainly a positive.”
The raucous sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd fell silent when Ohtani suffered the injury late in the 4-2 win over the visiting New York Yankees for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“The scene, very concerning,” Roberts said of the moment.
“Obviously when any one of your players goes down, it’s concerning. But after kind of the range of motion, the strength test, I felt much better about it.”
Asked whether he was prepared to manage the rest of the Fall Classic without his star leadoff hitter, Roberts deflected.
“I’m not there,” he said.
“I’m expecting him to be there. I’m expecting him to be in the lineup.”
Ohtani this year became the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, making him the inaugural member of MLB’s 50/50 club and is the runaway favorite to win the National League MVP.
The series shifts to New York for Game Three on Monday.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by William Mallard)
