Ohtani May Have to Undergo Surgery and Rehabilitation Without Team Help... Will MLB Face a Lockout?

Projections have emerged that Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani of Major League Baseball (MLB) may have to handle surgery and rehabilitation entirely on his own without the team's assistance.

The Associated Press reported today (the 17th, Korean time) that "Ohtani mentioned the possibility of surgery after his team's elimination was confirmed in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the Milwaukee Brewers on the 16th," adding that "if Ohtani actually goes under the knife, whether MLB institutes a lockout will significantly impact his rehabilitation process."

Currently, MLB clubs and the Players Association are sharply at odds over whether to introduce a salary cap ahead of the expiration of the new collective bargaining agreement.

While team owners are pushing for the implementation of a salary cap, the players union is strongly opposed.

Amid a failure to narrow the gap between the two sides, if an agreement is not reached by December 1, when the current collective bargaining agreement expires, there is a high possibility of a lockout starting on December 2.

In this event, clubs would suspend team operations and contact with players would be restricted.

The AP explained, "Because teams cannot contact players during a lockout, Ohtani would have to undergo surgery and rehabilitation privately without the help of his team."

However, there are also forecasts that a lockout could paradoxically help Ohtani recover from his injuries.

This is because if the labor dispute is prolonged and the opening of the 2027 season is delayed, Ohtani could secure additional time to recover his physical condition.

Ohtani struggled to perform at his best in the latter half of this season while suffering from left knee and right biceps injuries.

He has not pitched since the San Diego Padres game on July 4, and in 8 postseason games, he appeared solely as a hitter, struggling with a batting average of 0.192, 1 home run, and 3 RBIs.

As Ohtani faltered, the Dodgers' batting lineup suffered from an extreme slump, getting swept in four games in the NLCS and failing in their bid for a third consecutive World Series title.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.