Shohei Ohtani OK after X-rays after being hit by pitch reveal no structural damage

Shohei Ohtani had to have X-rays after being hit in the arm by a pitch Sunday, but he’s “doing well,” according to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

The hit came in the eighth inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, prompting boos from a Dodgers home crowd concerned about the health of the National League MVP favorite.

With Ohtani leading off, Richard Lovelady threw a 92 mph sinker inside on a 2-1 pitch, and it hit Ohtani on the inside of his left wrist. Ohtani grabbed his wrist in obvious pain as he ran down the first-base line.

After the umpires awarded first base to Ohtani on a hit pitch, he left the coaches aside and elected to stay in the game. One pitch later, Mookie Betts hit a home run to left field that scored Ohtani and gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead that remained the last.

Ohtani had no other batting appearances scheduled.

After the game, Roberts gave an update on Ohtani’s condition while speaking to reporters.

“Ohtani is doing fine,” Roberts said. “I think they did some scans, and I heard they were negative. He’s doing fine.”

The Dodgers have been plagued by injuries this season, including a ball that fractured Betts’ left hand and kept him out of action for nearly two months. With 31 games remaining in the regular season and the playoffs starting in five weeks, a broken wrist by Ohtani could have been a devastating blow to the Dodgers’ World Series hopes.

Fortunately for Ohtani and the Dodgers, Sunday’s incident appeared to be nothing more than a scare.

“It’s really scary,” Roberts said. “You always hold your breath. We went through that with Mookie a few months ago. And obviously with Shohei, a bullet coming.

“Luckily he was hit in the forearm. But when you start talking about little bones in the hand and things like that – 4 to 6 weeks at this time of year, it’s scary.”