Dodgers Injury Update: Latest on Shohei Ohtani and Justin Wrobleski

The moment Santiago Espinal stepped into the batter's box on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Los Angeles Dodgers fanbase was no doubt gripped with fear. Why? Because Espinal was pinch-hitting for Shohei Ohtani. That would be like Johnny Grabowski pinch-hitting for Babe Ruth in 1927. (Look it up.)

Espinal came on for Ohtani in the seventh inning after the Dodgers' superstar reportedly left the game with left knee inflammation. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani experienced pain in left knee and hamstring after a stolen-base earlier in the game.

“We tried to be smart about it and (he) talked to the trainer, and said he had a little (pain) behind the knee/ lower hamstring. So just wanted to be smart and not push it," Roberts said after the game.

Ohtani was not available to the media following the 8-6 victory over the Pirates, and Roberts referred his removal as precautionary. The Dodgers skipper believes Ohtani will be in the starting lineup for LA's series opener against the Chicago White Sox on Friday, but until then, fans will be waiting with bated breath.

Shohei Ohtani & Justin Wrobeskli injured in Dodgers victory over Pirates

Ohtani wasn't the only Dodgers star to leave Thursday's series finale against the Pirates with an injury. Justin Wrobleski was struck in the left thigh by a comebacker off the bat of Bryan Reynolds in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Reynolds unloaded on the first pitch of the at-bat that came screaming Wrobleski's way at 96 mph. The ball bounced off his left leg, but he recovered and tried to cover first base. Unfortunately, Reynolds reached safely, and Wrobleski was shaken up on the play.

There was concern about whether Wrobleski suffered an injury on the comebacker on during his attempt to cover the bag at first. Roberts and the training staff came out to check on the Dodgers' lefty and he was lifted in favor of reliever Will Klein.

"He's fine. He's fine," Roberts told reporters after the game. "He's just more frustrated with his performance tonight and wanted to go deeper into the game."

Obviously, whenever your best hitter (who's also your best pitcher) and one of your top young starters leaves a game due to injury, it's never a good thing. Thankfully, it sounds like both injuries aren't serious. Dodgers fans should know more before Friday's opener in Chicago.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow