Global Injury Report: Ohtani Navigates Knee Procedure as Acuña and An Woo-jin Hit Crucial Milestones

The mid-July All-Star break serves as a crucial dividing line in the global baseball calendar, offering a brief respite for battered rosters to heal. Across Major League Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), a wave of midsummer medical updates is clarifying the second-half landscape, headlined by a mix of maintenance procedures, frustrating setbacks, and triumphant returns.[1][2]

In Los Angeles, the Dodgers are carefully managing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. The National League MVP frontrunner was scratched from his final first-half start and opted out of Tuesday's All-Star Game in Philadelphia due to lingering left knee irritation.[7]

To address the inflammation, Ohtani is scheduled to undergo a minor procedure to drain fluid from the knee, followed by a cortisone injection. The Dodgers expect the extra rest provided by the exhibition break will allow him to resume his normal designated hitting and pitching schedule shortly after regular season play resumes.[7]

Remarkably, the knee discomfort did little to slow Ohtani's historic offensive pace. Just days before the break, he launched a solo shot against the Arizona Diamondbacks for his 22nd home run of the season. The blast marked his 350th combined home run across MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), making him only the second Japanese-born player to reach the milestone after Hideki Matsui.[1]

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves received a massive boost to their outfield depth. Ronald Acuña Jr. officially began a minor league rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Braves on Monday, taking his first live game action since suffering a Grade 1 left hamstring strain on June 10.[2]

Acuña went 0-for-3 in his first outing, but the box score was secondary to his physical response. The Braves have weathered a staggering number of injuries to their starting rotation and lineup this season, making the imminent return of their dynamic leadoff hitter a critical reinforcement for the National League East race.[2]

Not all pitching staffs are finding relief. The Arizona Diamondbacks placed right-handed ace Zac Gallen on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. The injury compounds a deeply frustrating 2026 campaign for Gallen, who has struggled to a 6.34 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP over 98 innings.[3]

In Toronto, a highly anticipated comeback was cut short by a devastating fluke injury. Cody Ponce, who won the KBO MVP award last season with a dazzling 1.89 ERA for the Hanwha Eagles, made his first MLB start since 2021 for the Blue Jays.[4][6]

Ponce looked dominant early, touching 97 mph with his fastball and holding the Colorado Rockies in check. But in the third inning, he bobbled a ground ball back to the mound and collapsed in visible pain, clutching his right knee. He was carted off the field and is scheduled for an MRI, pausing what had been a triumphant return stateside.[4][6]

Across the Pacific, however, the KBO provided one of the year's most inspiring medical milestones. Kiwoom Heroes ace An Woo-jin took the mound during the KBO All-Star Game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, completing a grueling rehabilitation journey that required both elbow and right shoulder surgeries.[5]

An has steadily rebuilt his arm strength throughout the first half of the KBO season, proving that his trademark 160 km/h (99 mph) fastball remains intact. Speaking to reporters in Seoul, the 26-year-old right-hander reflected on the mental toll of the rehab process and the sheer relief of being back on the mound.[5]

"I am grateful just to be able to throw the ball," An said, noting that his primary goal for the second half is simply to finish the year without further physical setbacks.[5]

As front offices pivot toward the late-summer trade deadlines, these medical updates will heavily influence roster strategies. Teams with returning stars like Atlanta can treat their activated players as midseason acquisitions, while clubs dealing with fresh elbow and knee concerns must now scour the market for emergency depth.[2][3]