NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani wasn’t on the group bus from Dodger Stadium to Los Angeles Worldwide Airport as a result of he was getting checks Saturday night time after partially separating his left shoulder in Recreation 2 of the World Collection.

So the Japanese star reached out in a bunch chat with fellow Dodgers gamers to erase any doubts over his standing.

“The textual content similar to actually mentioned: `I can play,’” infielder Max Muncy recalled Monday. “I imply, there was extra to it than that.”

True to his phrase, Ohtani remained within the lineup in his common leadoff slot because the designated hitter for Recreation 3 of the World Collection with Los Angeles holding a 2-0 lead over the New York Yankees.

Muncy mentioned Ohtani wrote the textual content himself in English with out help from interpreter Will Ireton.

“All of us simply put it to the facet at that second,” Muncy remembered. “All of us mentioned: `All proper, he’s received us. We’ll be prepared for him to be within the lineup.’”

Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts didn’t get the textual content message — “that group chat is for us — that’s for the gamers,” Muncy mentioned — and wasn’t conscious of it till Monday.

“Would have been useful if I used to be on that thread. I might have slept higher Saturday night time,” Roberts mentioned with a smile.

Ohtani received damage sliding into second base when he was caught stealing to finish the seventh inning of Saturday night time’s 4-2 victory in Los Angeles.

Roberts mentioned Ohtani’s shoulder was popped again into place by the athletic coaching employees on the ballpark and an MRI confirmed no structural injury. He wasn’t positive whether or not the damage will heal by itself or any process can be wanted after the Collection.

Requested whether or not Ohtani acquired medicine, an injection or was being taped up, Roberts mentioned “it’s the entire above on the therapy and stuff. The tape is simply defending and stabilizing, not likely limiting.”

Ohtani took swings off a tee in a Yankee Stadium batting cage Sunday night time and was hitting balls 102 mph, which modified Roberts’ temper to “pleasure.”

“He was very adamant that he was going to play,” Roberts mentioned. “Clearly, there’s some discomfort.”

A separated shoulder is topic to recurrence. Roberts mentioned he doubted Ohtani will try any extra stolen bases in the course of the Collection.

“In case you preserve one of the best participant within the sport within the lineup, that’s normally good on your group,” Muncy mentioned. “Clearly, it’s a giant man to have in there. It helps quite a bit. He’s had some large moments for us, and we’re clearly anticipating a pair extra large moments out of him.”

With the Dodgers chasing their eighth championship and second in 5 years, Walker Buehler was scheduled to start out Recreation 3 for Los Angeles within the best-of-seven Collection in opposition to Clarke Schmidt.

Ohtani was 0 for 3 with a stroll in Recreation 2. The doubtless NL MVP is 1 for 8 within the first two video games of the Fall Traditional and is batting .260 with three house runs and 10 RBIs in his first postseason within the majors.

“It was very powerful within the second to see him in ache like that,” Muncy mentioned. “We have been two innings away from profitable that ballgame. We knew we needed to refocus. Clearly, it sucks seeing Sho in that form of ache, however we nonetheless had a job to do within the second.

“After the sport all of us checked on him to see how he was doing. It was like a buffet line stepping into there to see how he’s doing. Yeah, it was powerful within the second, however we refocused to win the sport.”

A two-time AL MVP with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani joined the Dodgers final December for a document $700 million, 10-year contract.

The 30-year-old slugger hit .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, turning into the primary participant with at the least 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season. The 2-way star didn’t pitch this season whereas recovering from elbow surgical procedure on Sept. 19, 2023, and has been restricted to designated hitter.

“You see him stroll off holding (his arm) like that, clearly that’s a priority. However hopefully he’s OK,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned earlier than Recreation 3. “We wish to all be out right here competing with and in opposition to one of the best, and clearly Shohei embodies that. So hopefully every part’s OK, and we’ll get to go compete in opposition to him.”

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