Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers had a poor pitching performance and was struck by a line drive in a game against the Colorado Rockies, resulting in a bruised thigh but no serious injury.
Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ two-way star, was pitching on August 20, 2025, at Coors Field in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. This was his first career start at this venue and his 10th start of the season after recovering from elbow surgery that kept him out of pitching in 2024.
During the fourth inning, with runners on second and third and one out, Colorado’s Orlando Arcia hit a 93 mph line drive that struck Ohtani on the right thigh. The impact caused immediate pain and limping, but Ohtani managed to retrieve the ball and attempt a throw, though no out was recorded as a run scored.
After a mound visit from manager Dave Roberts and medical staff, Ohtani remained in the game to finish the inning, getting the final two outs. He pitched four innings total, allowing nine hits and five earned runs, which matched his career high in hits allowed and was his highest earned run total since July 2022.
Post-game, Roberts expressed relief that the injury was to the thigh and not the knee, avoiding bone contact. Ohtani, through an interpreter, stated he was glad it missed the knee and would focus on treatment, noting he had been hit in the same spot recently by a pitch.
The incident impacted Ohtani’s performance, which he described as ‘regrettable,’ and contributed to the Dodgers’ 8-3 loss. However, he extended his on-base streak to 18 games with a double and a walk offensively.
Looking ahead, Roberts is confident Ohtani will play in the next game on Friday against the San Diego Padres. Ohtani is scheduled to sit out Thursday’s game as part of routine management and will focus on recovery for future outings.