Shohei Ohtani’s shoulder procedure was minor enough that the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way star should be healthy enough to swing a bat by Feb. 2025, when spring training begins.
Orthopedic surgeon Rob Landsberg of Hendersonville, Tenn., described the recovery process from a Bankart shoulder repair — the kind of procedure Ohtani went, Newsweek Sports has learned — in an interview with Dodgers Nation.
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A Bankart Shoulder Repair is a surgical procedure designed to address recurrent shoulder dislocations, according to St. George Surgical Center. During the procedure, damaged ligaments are reattached to their proper position in the shoulder joint to restore normal function.
Orthopedic surgeon Rob Landsberg told Dodgers Nation’s Maren Angus:
“It is usually a sling for six weeks. Then range of motion and then eventually strengthening. However, he could be doing a totally different depending on what he found when he was in there.
“They will start working on early range of motion to hopefully have a full range of motion within four-to-six weeks. Typically it is a four-to-six-month recovery, but some people extend it to nine-to-12 months depending on the situation, the patient, the type of tear, and the type of repair.”
Ohtani played Games 3, 4 and 5 of the World Series after injuring his shoulder sliding into second base late in Game 2.
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Initially described as a subluxation — a partially dislocated shoulder — the Dodgers announced Tuesday that Ohtani also suffered a torn labrum. He went 1 for 11 over the final three games of the World Series, in which Los Angeles beat the New York Yankees, four games to one.
Ohtani was seen holding his shoulder close to his chest while running the bases after he sustained the injury, often appearing to be in pain or discomfort.
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Speaking to reporters on Oct. 29, Ohtani insisted the injury did not impact his swing.
“If it was my right shoulder it would have impacted my swing,” he said via his interpreter. “Thankfully it was my left so I don’t think it did.”
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Ohtani was asked after Game 3 whether he expected to need surgery after the season.
“I haven’t had further conversations about the future plan,” Ohtani said via his interpreter. “I think it’s something that’s going to happen after the season is over. Do additional testing. In terms of how I feel now, I don’t think so.”
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