Shohei Ohtani Faces 15-Day IL Stay as Ken Rosenthal Says He Misled Dodgers

Q: Will a rookie phenom unexpectedly steal the spotlight while baseball's biggest star watches from the bench?

Yes, he could — and the Dodgers appear ready to give Josue De Paula that chance while Shohei Ohtani recovers. Ohtani’s 15-day injured-list stint leaves Los Angeles without its biggest star until at least late September, with only a small regular-season window left before the playoffs. The Dodgers’ focus is clearly October, not squeezing out a few more September at-bats. Manager Dave Roberts has said the priority is getting Ohtani healthy enough to hit in the postseason, even if he is not fully 100 percent, and Ohtani is now expected to stop pitching for the rest of the season. That opens the door for De Paula, the 21-year-old top prospect being called up from Double-A Tulsa. He is not just a placeholder. Reports indicate he is expected to get most of the designated hitter at-bats vacated by Ohtani. His production in Double-A makes the intrigue real: roughly a .303/.401/.547 line with 27 home runs and 31 stolen bases, plus strong reviews for strike-zone control and advanced bat-to-ball skills. Whether he actually “steals the spotlight” is less certain. Jumping straight from Double-A to a pennant-race lineup is a major leap, and no rookie is likely to replace Ohtani’s overall impact. But De Paula has a genuine opportunity to become the Dodgers’ biggest short-term storyline, especially if he adjusts quickly and gives their lineup needed production while Ohtani rests. So the spotlight is available, and De Paula has the talent and playing time to grab part of it.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 10

Shohei Ohtani was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 10 with knee and biceps issues after missing most games since Sept. 2.
Ken Rosenthal said the delay may reflect Ohtani not fully communicating his physical condition, arguing some players "basically lie" to stay on the field.
That timing matters because an IL move after Ohtani's Sept. 2 appearance would have started the 15-day clock a week earlier and improved his chances of a regular-season return.
With about 20 games left, the delayed stint now pushes Ohtani's possible return toward the end of the season and potentially into the postseason.