Shohei Ohtani pitches for the Dodgers in World Series Game 3, two days after dislocating his shoulder

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was not on the team bus from Dodger Stadium to Los Angeles International Airport because he was undergoing tests Saturday night after partially separating his left shoulder in Game 2 of the World Series.

So the Japanese star reached out in a group chat with fellow Dodgers players to clear any doubts about his status.

“The script is exactly like it literally said, ‘I can play,’” quarterback Max Muncy recalled Monday. “I mean, there was more to it than that.”

True to his word, Ohtani remained in the lineup in his usual leadoff slot as the designated hitter for Game 3 of the World Series With Los Angeles leading 2-0 over the New York Yankees.

Ohtani was the only Dodgers player wearing a warm-up jacket during pregame introductions to his right-handed teammates. A black wrapper appeared on his left shoulder.

He didn’t swing in his first appearance at the plate, taking four balls from Clark Schmidt. Ohtani kept his left arm at an angle above his chest while at first base, holding his collar with his hand, and held it there while rounding the bases on Freddie Freeman’s homer.

Ohtani had a swing and a miss in the third inning, scowling a bit, before being retired. He put his hand on his chest as he ran back to the hideout.

Ohtani wrote the script himself in English without the help of translator Will Ireton, Muncy said.

“We put it aside at that moment,” Muncy recalls. “We all said, ‘OK, he’s got us. We’ll be ready to have him in the starting lineup.’

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not receive the text message — “This group chat is for us — and this is for the players,” Muncy said — and was not aware of it until Monday.

“It would have been helpful if I had been on the subject. I slept better Saturday night,” Roberts said with a smile.

Ohtani was injured He slid to second base when he was caught stealing to end the seventh inning Saturday night win 4-2 In Los Angeles.

Ohtani’s shoulder was put back in place by the athletic training staff on the field and an MRI showed no structural damage, Roberts said. He was unsure if the injury would heal on its own or if any action would be needed after the series.

Asked if Ohtani had received medication, an injection or been bound with duct tape, Roberts said, “It’s all about treatment and stuff.” The tape is just protection and stability, not really a restriction.

Ohtani took a swing from the tee in the batting cage at Yankee Stadium Sunday night and was hitting balls at 102 mph, which changed Roberts’ mood to “joy.”

“He was very adamant that he was going to play,” Roberts said. “There’s obviously some discomfort.”

A separated shoulder is prone to recurrence. Roberts said he doubted Ohtani would attempt more stolen bases during the series.

“If you keep the best player of the match in the lineup, that’s usually good for your team,” Muncy said. “Obviously having a big guy there. It helps a lot. He’s had some big moments for us, and obviously we’re expecting a few more big moments from him.”

With the Dodgers chasing their eighth championship and second in five years, Walker Buehler was scheduled to start Game 3 for Los Angeles in the best-of-seven series.

Ohtani was 0-for-3 with a walk in Game 2. The potential NL MVP was 1-for-8 in the first two games of the Fall Classic and batted .260 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in his first season in the majors.

“It was very difficult in that moment to see him in pain like that,” Muncy said. “We were two innings away from winning that game. We knew we had to refocus. Obviously it sucks to see Shaw in that kind of pain, but we still have work to do right now.”

“After the match we all checked on him to see how he was doing. It was like a buffet queue going there to see how he was doing. Yes, it was difficult at that moment, but we focused again to win the match.

A Two-time AL MVP With the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani joined the Dodgers last December for a record-setting hit $700 million, 10-year contract.

The 30-year-old hard-hitting infielder hit .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, becoming the first player to have at least 50 homers and 50 stolen bases In one season. The two-way star has not played this season while recovering Elbow surgery on September 19, 2023and was limited to the designated hitter.

“You see him come out holding his arm like that, and obviously that’s a concern,” he added. “But hopefully he’ll be OK,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Game 3. “We want to all be here to compete with and against the best, and obviously Shohei embodies that. So I hope everything goes well and we will compete against him.

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