Will Shohei Ohtani play tonight against Arizona Diamondbacks? Latest update on Los Angeles Dodgers star's injury report (May 8, 2025)

It has been reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers are likely to use Shohei Ohtani as their designated hitter tonight as well against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This means that he will feature in the game tonight. The match-up against the Diamondbacks is set to start at 9:40 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Shohei Ohtani, recovering from arm injuries, is continuing to hit while his return to the mound is on pause.Ohtani recently underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2023 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, and he hasn’t pitched since. After he recovered fully from the injury, he showed immense form in the current MLB season and his fans are going gaga over his homers.He also had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder last November to repair a torn labrum suffered in the World Series. Ohtani, however, has continued to play as a DH despite the two setbacks. He has expressed some unease with his left shoulder, characterizing it as “not really debilitating,” but reporting minor symptoms and decreased range of motion. The Dodgers are taking a careful approach in Ohtani's rehabilitation, with an eye towards his long-term health. “We’re looking forward to him being fully healthy in 2025,” General Manager Brandon Gomes said about Franco, adding that they’ll take the side of caution during his rehab. The Dodgers are still able to employ Ohtani as a designated hitter for their lineup. His offense is a boost to the lineup, especially as the team tries to figure out its pitching injuries. Shohei Ohtani’s contributions at this point in time are especially precious for the team because they have become even more pitching-depleted than usual, with both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow being shelved. As the Dodgers are up to face the Diamondbacks tonight, fans can expect to see Shohei Ohtani in his designated hitter role, continuing to support the team offensively while his return to pitching is carefully managed.Also Read: “Looks like he’s having fun”- Fans cheer for Shohei Ohtani as he is on his way to create MLB history year