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Shohei Ohtani‘s ongoing left knee irritation is possibly connected to a surgery he had on the same knee back in 2019, per Dodger Blue. Ohtani had kneecap surgery during his time with the Los Angeles Angels, and that prior procedure may be the root cause of the discomfort that scratched him from a pitching start against the Arizona Diamondbacks and will keep him out of the All-Star Game entirely.

The 2019 surgery was performed on Ohtani’s left kneecap while he was rehabbing from his first Tommy John procedure. It was a relatively under-the-radar operation at the time, overshadowed by the elbow rehab, but knees have long memories — especially ones that have been surgically repaired. The fact that we’re hearing about this connection now suggests the Dodgers have been doing their due diligence on why the irritation keeps flaring up rather than simply managing symptoms.

Despite the discomfort, Ohtani has remained in the Dodgers lineup throughout the weekend as a designated hitter. That’s the encouraging part of this. He earned a starting spot in the National League All-Star lineup, but the team is wisely using the break to give his knee some rest rather than pushing him through an exhibition game. Nobody wants to see him aggravate something in a game that doesn’t count.

Ohtani’s 2026 season has been his usual blend of elite production on both sides of the ball, which is exactly why this knee situation demands careful attention. He’s not just a hitter the Dodgers can afford to rest periodically — he’s also a frontline starter in our rotation. Any persistent lower-body issue affects his ability to drive off the mound, and that’s where the concern deepens beyond just his at-bats. The pitching scratch was the first real signal that this isn’t something he can simply play through in every capacity.

For the Dodgers, this is a situation to monitor closely heading into the second half. Ohtani continuing to hit through the irritation is a good sign — it means the knee isn’t structurally compromised in a way that limits his swing. But the pitching side is the bigger question mark. If the 2019 surgery site is genuinely the source of the problem, this could be something that needs ongoing management rather than a quick fix. The All-Star break comes at a perfect time. Getting him a few days completely off his feet before the stretch run is the smart play, and I’d expect the Dodgers medical staff to use every minute of it.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: July 12, 2026 2:25 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers