'Overcoming knee pain with two home runs,' Ohtani speaks candidly: "Even players who don't play defense aren't in 100% condition"

*This content was translated by AI.

Despite suspending all pitching training, including catchball, due to left knee pain, "the god of baseball" Shohei Ohtani (32, Los Angeles Dodgers) continues to swing his bat without stopping. Despite voices urging rest, Ohtani made it clear he is determined to play regardless.

On the 6th (Korean time), Ohtani started as the designated hitter in an away game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA, in the "2026 Major League Baseball (MLB)" season. He delivered a standout performance with 3 hits in 5 at-bats, including 2 home runs and 3 RBIs, before addressing reporters about recent concerns regarding injury management and calls for rest.

According to Japanese media outlet Chunichi Sports, Ohtani has not yet scheduled any catchball sessions for his return to pitching due to lingering effects of knee inflammation. Consequently, some U.S. local outlets have suggested he should take a period of rest, possibly by being placed on the injured list, to prevent worsening his injury.

However, Ohtani's perspective differs. While acknowledging that "not playing games is the most certain way to avoid injuries and prevent condition deterioration," he added, "But no player competes in 100% perfect physical condition. Our team also doesn't have the luxury of being able to afford rest."

Ohtani further emphasized, "Since I am not playing defense, I don't believe that participating in games carries extremely high risk. Even if there is some risk involved, I decided to play because I believe my contribution to the team as a player is more valuable."

True to his words, Ohtani hit his first "two-home-run game" of this season on this day, proving his value as a designated hitter. Although the team narrowly lost 6-7, he displayed an astonishing batting performance that made him forget about his knee pain.

When asked at the press conference about the MVP race with Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (24), Ohtani responded, "I think he is an excellent player. But I want to focus on what I need to do."

Finally, Ohtani did not hide his determination regarding a return to pitching in addition to his batting performance. He stated, "I am preparing every day to quickly regain good condition and return to the mound," bringing up the topic of his pitching comeback before it was even asked, clearly expressing his strong will to resume two-way play within this season.

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*This content was translated by AI.