The Major League Baseball All-Star Game will lose one of its main figures. Shohei Ohtani will not be present in the Midseason Classic that will be played next week in Philadelphia, after the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to prioritize the treatment of persistent discomfort in his left knee before the offseason.

The absence of the Japanese represents an important change for the event, since he had been the player most voted for by National League fans and was scheduled to open as the starting designated hitter. In addition, there was expectation of the possibility of seeing him pitch during the show, an option that was finally ruled out.

The Los Angeles organization also confirmed that Ohtani will not make the start scheduled for this Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, as part of a plan aimed at treating the injury and preparing him for the second half of the campaign.

The Dodgers are committed to preserving their biggest star

Despite the cancellation of his start as a pitcher and his withdrawal from the All-Star Game, the Dodgers indicated that the Japanese will remain in the lineup for the rest of the series against Arizona as a designated hitter. That way, he will continue to contribute offensively before the calendar break.

Once those commitments end, the club reported that Ohtani will undergo “knee interventions,” although it did not offer details about the procedure. The objective, according to the organization, is to arrive in the best possible conditions to face the second half of the season.

Irritation in the left knee has been with the player since at least June 11. Faced with this situation, the team opted for conservative management to prevent the discomfort from getting worse as the decisive stage of the championship approached.

Ohtani's numbers reflect the weight he has within the Los Angeles squad. This season he is hitting for an average of .290, with an on-base percentage of .405 and a slugging percentage of .534, in addition to accumulating 20 home runs and 56 RBIs. On the mound he has also maintained a high level, posting a 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 14 starts totaling 85 and two-thirds innings.

His absence also leaves pending the designation of the player who will take his place on the National League roster, a decision that Major League Baseball will announce in the coming days.

The 2026 All-Star Game will be held at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the first time that stadium will host the event and the fourth time that the city will host the midseason classic. Activities will begin on July 10 with the HBCU Swingman Classic and continue with the Future Star Game and the new All-Star 3-on-3 on July 12.

The Home Run Derby will be played on July 13, while on the 14th the traditional Red Carpet and the All-Star Game will be held, in which the National League will try to achieve its second consecutive victory after winning last year in a historic tiebreaker.