Shohei Ohtani’s Brief Break from the Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani was absent from the Dodgers’ lineup during Friday night’s match against the Baltimore Orioles, with officials noting he was “away from the team on paternity. ” He is still listed as active and should return later this weekend. Ohtani did arrive at the stadium at his usual pregame time, but the Dodgers delayed announcing their lineup. Manager Dave Roberts explained the hold‑up was due to “working through some things with some position players, ” and at that moment he had not spoken with Ohtani.When pressed about health concerns, Roberts denied that the issues were medical in nature. Ohtani welcomed his first child, a daughter, in April 2025 and has kept her identity private, sharing only the news on social media without posting pictures or a name. The player has also faced physical challenges recently: he sat out a game last week because of left knee inflammation, and his training staff will now monitor him closely. Additionally, a blister on the middle finger of his right hand caused blood to appear during his last start. The situation remains fluid, and updates will follow.