Ohtani was pitching into the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds for the first time in his elongated build-up from surgery and had thrown a season-high 51 pitches before Roberts hustled from the visiting dugout. After a brief conversation, Ohtani’s day as a pitcher was over.

Given Shohei Ohtani's injury history there was real cause for concern as a Los Angeles Dodgers trainer visited him on the mound Wednesday night in the fourth inning of a start against the Cincinnati Reds. And even more when he abandoned the start to play DH, though staying in the game at all was an optimistic sign.