Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Removed After Leg Injury vs Rockies

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani had a difficult outing in his first pitching start of the 2025 season against the Colorado Rockies, allowing five earned runs and nine hits over four innings. During the fourth inning, Ohtani was struck in the thigh by a 93 mph line drive off the bat of Orlando Arcia, causing him to limp but remain in the game to finish the inning and later draw a walk in the fifth. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts removed Ohtani in the eighth inning due to stiffness and soreness in his thigh, but both Roberts and Ohtani expressed optimism about his return for the upcoming game against the San Diego Padres. Ohtani noted relief that the line drive hit his thigh rather than his knee, describing the injury as manageable and emphasizing his focus on treatment. This outing marked Ohtani's 10th pitching start since recovering from elbow surgery and matched his career highs for hits and earned runs allowed. Despite the injury and rough performance, Ohtani and the Dodgers remain hopeful for his near-term return to play.