Shohei Ohtani had arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday to fix a labrum tear in his left shoulder. This injury happened during Game 2 of the World Series on October 26.
The Los Angeles Dodgers say that Ohtani is expected to be ready for spring training in February.
Ohtani hurt his non-throwing shoulder when he slid into second base while attempting a stolen base, which caused his shoulder to dislocate. Despite the injury, he played in the next three games, helping the Dodgers defeat the Yankees in five games to win the championship.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Dodgers’ head physician, performed the surgery in Los Angeles.
Although Ohtani was just 1 for 11 at the plate with a walk during the World Series after the injury, his presence in the lineup was important for a team that had relied on his performance all season. The 30-year-old had one of the best regular seasons in baseball history, becoming the first player to hit at least 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season.
Last year, he signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers.
It’s still unclear if the surgery will affect Ohtani’s plans to return as a pitcher in 2025. He had surgery on his throwing elbow last offseason, which kept him from pitching in 2024.
The Dodgers are set to start spring training in early February, a few days before most other teams, because they are scheduled to play in the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19.
