In a twist worthy of a baseball drama, Shohei Ohtani suffered a labrum tear while heroically attempting to steal second base during Game 2 of the World Series, but fear not—surgery was a home run!

Ohtani's dramatic shoulder injury, caused during an audacious steal in the seventh inning, led to successful arthroscopic surgery by renowned expert Dr. Neal ElAttrache. As MLB fans hold their breath, the dual-threat superstar's recovery is on track for a return in spring training, making it a suspenseful offseason for the newly minted $700 million Dodgers player, who seems to have turned his body into a personal repair shop.

Despite the injury, Ohtani displayed a level of grit that many might envy. He gritted his teeth and played through the pain for the next three games in the World Series, clearly committed to the cause. Unfortunately, his efforts at the plate were not rewarded, as he managed a less-than-stellar 1 for 11 performance. One could say his offense was akin to a slightly broken home run fence—plenty of promise, but not much connection.

This installment of Ohtani’s injury saga marks the second consecutive offseason in which the Japanese star has found himself on the operating table. There's certainly an irony to the notion that this two-way player has undergone more surgical procedures than some players have games in a season. One can only hope that his regular visits to the surgeon will lead to more successful returns on the field rather than just firmly establishing ties with medical staff.

Highlighting Ohtani's remarkable season, he became the first player in MLB history to both hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. An achievement that made him look like a video game character whose code had been infused with too much energy drink. Yet, as impressive as these numbers are, it seems the universe has a way of balancing things out. Perhaps the baseball gods took umbrage with his success and handed him a labrum tear as their way of reminding him that no player is invincible, even when you’re worth twice the GDP of some countries.

Now, with a 10-year, $700 million record contract under his belt with the Dodgers, it’s clear that Ohtani is indeed valuable. His performance that season raised eyebrows—not just because he could hit and pitch at elite levels, but because he managed to keep payroll accountants sleeping just a little less soundly, knowing they could theoretically make trades that might involve actual brain surgeons.

As Ohtani looks towards spring training and the potential of returning to the diamond, questions linger over whether the surgery will affect his scheduled return as a pitcher in 2025. His fans anxiously await his status updates like a kid tracking a holiday package—wanting updates but fearing the reveal of a postponed delivery. Will he be throwing 100 mph fastballs or rounding the bases while shaking off the shock of his operation? It’s a suspenseful chapter in an already astonishing career.

In the end, while Ohtani might need a little more stitching to keep that dual-threat label intact, his spirit remains unscathed. The baseball world can only watch as this remarkable talent recovers and potentially continues to rewrite history in a sport that has seen its share of remarkable talents, albeit few have required as much articulate sewing to keep them on the field.