{"id":23429,"date":"2026-07-31T18:54:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T13:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=23429"},"modified":"2026-07-31T18:54:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T13:54:21","slug":"what-is-shohei-ohtani-still-doing-on-the-dodgers-active-roster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=23429","title":{"rendered":"What is Shohei Ohtani still doing on the Dodgers&#8217; active roster?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>Shohei Ohtani said he could <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/19\/sports\/why-dodgers-world-championship-quest-hinges-on-shohei-ohtanis-knee\/\">pitch through the discomfort in his knee<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Until he couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>Even then, he insisted could be the Dodgers\u2019 designated hitter.<\/p>\n<p>Until he couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/29\/sports\/dodgers-must-shut-down-shohei-ohtani-over-injury-concerns\/\">can see the direction in which this is trending<\/a>, so what is Ohtani still doing on the active roster?<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a difference between involving a star player in decisions about his playing time and allowing him to destroy his body, and the Dodgers are dangerously close to crossing that line.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40142593\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:0.66699219;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40142593\" width=\"394\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?w=683\" alt=\"Shohei Ohtani grimaces after hitting a foul ball.\" class=\"wp-image-40142593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 2001w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=200,300&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=768,1151&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=683,1024&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 683w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=1025,1536&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1025w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=1366,2048&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1366w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=400,600&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 400w, 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=137,206&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 137w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=47,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 47w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=27,40&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 27w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=36,54&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 36w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=133,200&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 133w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=231,346&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=322,483&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=300,450&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=294,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 294w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=40,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 40w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=53,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 53w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=1200,1799&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=39,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 39w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=104,156&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 104w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/grimaces-hitting-foul-ball-seattle-135943593_d36b77.jpg?resize=33,50&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 33w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 394px) 100vw, 394px\"\/><figcaption>Shohei Ohtani grimaces after hitting a foul ball against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Los Angeles. <span class=\"credit\">AP Photo\/Scott Strazzante<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Manager Dave Roberts defended the organization by mentioning that Ohtani wanted to play on Friday in the series finale against the Seattle Mariners.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo that point,\u201d Roberts said, \u201che\u2019s not playing tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Great, so the Dodgers can draw a line in the sand.<\/p>\n<p>Now, draw another.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Cali - Morning Report\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia&#8217;s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Don\u2019t play him this weekend against the Boston Red Sox. Or in the following series in Chicago against the Cubs.<\/p>\n<p>As I wrote earlier this week, place him on the injured list and shut him down for 10 days.<\/p>\n<p>But it doesn\u2019t sound as if that will happen, as Roberts said he was \u201cvery confident\u201d Ohtani would be back in the lineup on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>This feels reckless. This feels negligent.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m all for listening to players, especially superstars directly responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising revenue, and Roberts said that\u2019s what the Dodgers were doing. Roberts pointed to how they gave Freddie Freeman a chance to play through ankle problems in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTeams do that with players,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re all treated fairly but differently, right? That\u2019s part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter\">\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--more inline-module--columnist inline-module--more--thirds\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<h2 class=\"inline-module__heading subsection-heading subsection-heading--single-line \">\n\t\t\tMore From\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"subsection-heading__sub\">Dylan Hernandez<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Respecting a superstar enough to give him a say in major decisions is smart \u2013 up to a certain point.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But this has moved beyond that point, and the way in which the Dodgers have dealt with this situation makes them look as if they fear Ohtani to where they\u2019re reluctant to step in and do what has to be done.<\/p>\n<p>Asked if he was concerned that Ohtani required a break only three days after the Dodgers\u2019 day off on Monday, Roberts replied, \u201cFair question. I think I\u2019m trying to restrain from forecasting what\u2019s going to happen, as opposed to just reading and reacting.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40142592\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40142592\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/los-angeles-dodgers-manager-dave-135943246.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Los Angeles Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts high-fives Shohei Ohtani after Ohtani scored a run.\" class=\"wp-image-40142592\" 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/los-angeles-dodgers-manager-dave-135943246.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/los-angeles-dodgers-manager-dave-135943246.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/los-angeles-dodgers-manager-dave-135943246.jpg?resize=661,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 661w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/los-angeles-dodgers-manager-dave-135943246.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/los-angeles-dodgers-manager-dave-135943246.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/los-angeles-dodgers-manager-dave-135943246.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/los-angeles-dodgers-manager-dave-135943246.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/los-angeles-dodgers-manager-dave-135943246.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/los-angeles-dodgers-manager-dave-135943246.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Dave Roberts high fives Shohei Ohtani after Ohtani scored on Freddie Freeman\u2019s hit. <span class=\"credit\">AP Photo\/Scott Strazzante<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cSo, yeah, three days ago we just had an off day, and then to say that there\u2019s some soreness certainly is different than what we\u2019ve done the last two weeks. So is there a trend? I hope not. But if it is, then we just gotta manage it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The problem is that it could be too late by then.<\/p>\n<p>Considering Ohtani\u2019s knee has forced him to do less and less as time in recent weeks, shouldn\u2019t the Dodgers just place him on the injured list?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s a hard question,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI understand the thought behind it. But [the knee has] gotten better over the last few weeks, markedly. He\u2019s been a very productive player. But to kind of essentially take it out of his hands, shut him down \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Roberts said the Dodgers trusted Ohtani\u2019s judgement. Ohtani alerted the Dodgers of his renewed discomfort after their game on Wednesday, and Roberts said that was evidence of the strong communication between the player and team.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe understands the most important part of the season is to come, and he understands his value with our team,\u201dRoberts said. \u201cA player that\u2019s been around for as long as he has, that knows his body, it\u2019s hard to just take it out of his hands and essentially bench him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In mid-June, when Ohtani started experiencing knee problems, I advocated in these pages for the Dodgers to do what they\u2019re doing and trust him.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The last seven weeks, however, have shown Ohtani\u2019s instincts for self-preservation to be unreliable. Many of the qualities that make Ohtani a great player \u2013 everything from his love of the game to his extreme pain tolerance \u2013 are working against him.<\/p>\n<p>Roberts said the Dodgers have refused to place him on the injured list because they respect him. Fair enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But the Dodgers could show Ohtani an even greater level of respect by telling him what he doesn\u2019t want to hear and forcing him to take a break he doesn\u2019t want.<\/p>\n<p>Ohtani wants to be at his best in October. The Dodgers have to do what\u2019s necessary to make that happen, however uncomfortable it might be in the short term.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>California Post News<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheCaliforniaPost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/californiapost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@CaliforniaPost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TikTok<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/californiapost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">X<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@thecaliforniapost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029Vb6a2IV1NCrL6q2AWq0E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsApp<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/company\/californiapost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a><br \/><strong>California Post Sports<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/capostsports\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/capostsports\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@capostsports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TikTok<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CaliforniaPostSports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/capostsports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">X<\/a><br \/><strong>California Post  <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/californiapost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Opinion<\/a> <br \/><strong>California Post Newsletters<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/email.nypost.com\/#california-post\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sign up here!<\/a><br \/><strong>California Post App<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/california-post\/id6751343487\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download here!<\/a><br \/><strong>Home delivery<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/subscribe.californiapost.com\/defaultCAP\">Sign up here!<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/california-post\/id6751343487\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/><\/a><strong>Page Six Hollywood<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/hollywood-signup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shohei Ohtani said he could pitch through the discomfort in his knee. Until he couldn\u2019t. Even then, he insisted could be the Dodgers\u2019 designated hitter. Until he couldn\u2019t. Everyone can see the direction in which this is trending, so what is Ohtani still doing on the active roster? There\u2019s a difference between involving a star&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23430,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/136068149.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23429"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23429\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}