Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Reveals New Injury amid Knee Issue, Talks Timeline to Return to Pitching

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani revealed Tuesday his lingering left knee soreness isn't the only issue he's been playing through.

Ohtani, speaking to reporters through interpreter Will Ireton, said after the Dodgers' Tuesday night loss to the visiting Seattle Mariners he is also dealing with a biceps issue.

"My bicep's not 100 percent, and again, just similar issue with the knee," Ohtani said, via Ireton. "Do we consider pushing this? It is still July, so I think the conversation would be a little different if we're in August or September."

Ohtani has remained in the Dodgers' lineup as a designated hitter but has not pitched since July 3.

The Athletic's Katie Woo reported Monday there is "an internal concern over his lingering left knee soreness" within the Dodgers organization.

Ohtani was scheduled for a bullpen session Saturday against the New York Mets, but walked back the plan after manager Dave Roberts said the pitcher felt discomfort in a throwing session last Wednesday, per MLB.com's Bill Ladson.

When speaking Tuesday about how Ohtani's knee injury impacts his pitching, Roberts said, "I just know that there's some [discomfort] getting over the front side when he's landing, and then the force that he creates with the torque while pitching."

Ohtani said Tuesday it was "up in the air" whether the Dodgers would have him pitch through the injury.

He also added the knee issue has made it difficult for him to be aggressive while baserunning.

Both of Ohtani's health issues have lingered for over a month. He first exited a game early due to left knee inflammation on June 11.

Ohtani was later removed early from a July 3 game against the San Diego Padres after his right bicep tightened on a swing, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.

The two-way star said at the time he had experienced a similar sensation "a couple months ago," per Gonzalez.

Roberts indicated the biceps issue had been exacerbated by Ohtani's attempt to return to pitching.

"It started with the knee, and then, as he came out, and the bicep thing happened when he took a swing... three, four weeks ago," Roberts said Tuesday. "As we got to the break, we wanted him to rest his knee, rest his body, his arm.

"And then as he started ramping back up... it just wasn't responding, nor was his knee. I think there is an effect from the lower half to the compromising of the upper half, the arm. And so trying to mitigate that, we stopped the throwing, stopped the bullpens, to hopefully number one, take care of the knee, and then not have him try to create velocity with the arm that's not 100 percent."

The Dodgers are also missing Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow to injury, although Snell has begun rehab with Triple-A Oklahoma City and Glasnow is on track to begin rehab soon (h/t MLB.com).

The Los Angeles Times' Maddie Lee recently reported the Dodgers aren't expected to make a push for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal ahead of the trade deadline. The club could be hoping Ohtani, Snell and Glasnow will all be able to make it back into the rotation in time for the postseason.