NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Shohei Ohtani wasn't on the team bus from Dodger Stadium to Los Angeles International Airport because he was getting 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 erase any doubts over his status.
鈥淭he text just like literally said: `I can play,'鈥� infielder Max Muncy recalled Monday. 鈥淚 mean, there was more to it than that.鈥�
True to his word, Ohtani remained in the lineup in his regular leadoff slot as the designated hitter for . He walked leading off the game and scored on Freddie Freeman's two-run homer, starting the over the New York Yankees and a 3-0 World Series lead.
Ohtani was 0 for 3 with a walk and was hit by a pitch, looking uncomfortable as he winced and grimaced while swinging.
鈥淏alls that were away that he chased a little bit, I saw a couple winces,鈥� Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Ohtani dropped to 1 for 11 with no RBIs in Series.
鈥淚f it was more of the right shoulder, then I think it would have impacted my swing,鈥� he said through an interpreter. 鈥淭hankfully, it was my left, so I don鈥檛 think it really did.鈥�
He was the only Dodgers starter wearing a warmup jacket during pregame introductions and high-fived teammates with his right hand. A black wrapping was visible over his left shoulder, which Ohtani said was there to help keep his shoulder warm.
He didn't swing in his first plate appearance, taking four balls from Clarke Schmidt. Ohtani kept his left arm at an angle over his chest while at first base, hand holding his collar, and held it there while rounding the bases on Freeman's homer.
Ohtani grounded out in the third and held the hand to his chest as he jogged back to the dugout. He struck out in the fourth and fouled out in the seventh.
"The reason why I was holding on to myself when I was running is to make sure that I wouldn鈥檛 use that same shoulder arm if I were to slide," he said.
Ohtani said he isn't sure whether he will need offseason surgery.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 had further conversations about the future plan,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 something that鈥檚 going to happen after the season is over, do additional testing. But in terms of how I feel now, I don鈥檛 think so.鈥�
Muncy said Ohtani wrote the Saturday night text himself in English without assistance from interpreter Will Ireton.
鈥淲e all said: `All right, he鈥檚 got us. We'll be ready for him to be in the lineup,'鈥� Muncy recalled.
Roberts didn't get the text message 鈥� 鈥渢hat group chat is for us 鈥� that鈥檚 for the players,鈥� Muncy said 鈥� and wasn't aware of it until Monday.
鈥淲ould have been helpful if I was on that thread. I would have slept better Saturday night," the manager said with a smile.
sliding into second base when he was caught stealing to end the seventh inning of Roberts said Ohtani's shoulder was popped back into place by the athletic training staff at the ballpark and an MRI showed no structural damage.
鈥淚 was really concerned about whether I was safe or out,鈥� Ohtani said. 鈥淚t was only when I went back inside where we had to figure out what it was.鈥�
Asked whether Ohtani received medication, an injection or was being taped up, Roberts said 鈥渋t's all of the above on the treatment and stuff. The tape is just protecting and stabilizing, not really limiting.鈥�
Ohtani took swings off a tee in a Yankee Stadium batting cage Sunday night and was hitting balls 102 mph, which changed Roberts' mood to 鈥渏oy.鈥�
鈥淗e was very adamant that he was going to play,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淥bviously, there鈥檚 some discomfort.鈥�
A separated shoulder is subject to recurrence. Roberts said he doubted Ohtani will attempt any more stolen bases during the Series.
Ohtani is batting .245 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in his first MLB postseason. A with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani joined the Dodgers last December for a record .
The 30-year-old slugger hit .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, becoming the first player with at least in a season. The two-way star did not pitch this season while recovering from , and has been limited to designated hitter.
Now he is one win from the goal he set when he signed with the Dodgers after six losing seasons with the Angels.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always been my childhood dream to be able to be in an important situation, to play in important games,鈥� he said before the postseason started.
Pain didn't stop him.
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AP MLB:
Ronald Blum, The Associated Press