Jack Flaherty Reveals Shohei Ohtani Text Message Following Game 2 Injury

Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty recently opened up about Shohei Ohtani’s injury and the text message the star sent after his shoulder injury in Game 2 of the 2024 World Series. Flaherty’s comments also touched on his concerns about modern scouting methods and the evolution of player evaluation in Major League Baseball.

Jack Flaherty’s Concerns About Modern Scouting

For years, discovering Major League-caliber talent from a sea of youth baseball players has been one of the sport’s biggest challenges. While scouting methods have evolved, Jack Flaherty—who was recently crowned World Series champion with the LA Dodgers—has some reservations about where it’s heading.

Flaherty expressed his concerns in a recent appearance on the Throwbacks podcast with Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara. He explained, “The problem is that it’s all numbers-based now.” He believes that while data analysis has become the focal point, the skill of recognizing a player’s feel for the game is something that’s being overlooked. According to Flaherty, modern scouting often focuses on metrics like how hard a player hits the ball, how fast they run, and how fast they throw, rather than evaluating how a player competes against top-level talent.

“It’s not like what can you do against this pitching?” Flaherty noted. “It’s all like how hard do you hit the ball? How hard do you throw? That’s all the showcase stuff instead of, like, how hard do you actually compete against these guys?”

In addition to voicing concerns over the data-driven approach, Flaherty also lamented the trend of young athletes specializing in a single sport. “When we were playing travel baseball, it wasn’t just baseball,” Flaherty recalled. “We were playing basketball, football, volleyball—whatever it was. That’s just how we did it.” Flaherty believes that diversifying athletic experiences helped develop well-rounded players.

Shohei Ohtani’s Shoulder Injury in the World Series

Flaherty’s comments also included reflections on his unforgettable experience winning the 2024 World Series with his hometown team, the LA Dodgers. One of the most memorable moments came in Game 2, when Shohei Ohtani was forced to leave the game due to a shoulder injury. Ohtani’s injury initially appeared to be a partial shoulder dislocation, but after the series ended, he was diagnosed with a torn labrum and underwent surgery.

Despite the setback, Ohtani sent an uplifting text message to his teammates that stood out to Flaherty. “It was like, ‘In 2020, Cody Bellinger hurt his shoulder and he came back. This year, it’ll be me, I’ll be fine,’” Flaherty recalled. Ohtani, known for his resilience, did indeed play through the injury starting in Games 3, 4, and 5. His determination and commitment to the team were clear, even as he faced recovery after the season concluded.

Looking Ahead to Ohtani’s Recovery

After undergoing surgery to repair the torn labrum, Shohei Ohtani is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for Spring Training in 2025. While the injury was a tough blow for both Ohtani and the Dodgers, his positive attitude and focus on recovery continue to inspire both his teammates and fans alike.

Flaherty’s insights on Shohei Ohtani’s injury and the evolution of scouting in baseball highlight the ongoing shifts in how players are evaluated and how the game itself continues to evolve. With Ohtani’s return on the horizon and Flaherty’s reflections on the 2024 World Series, the future of baseball remains bright.