MLB’s injury culture and player exploitation expose systemic risks in athlete commodification and team financialization of baseball talent
Original framing: “Dodgers to stick with out-of-form Ohtani” — The Japan Times
Scientific research on athlete injury prevention, such as studies on workload management and concussion protocols, consistently shows that MLB’s current approach is flawed. For example, research from the *Journal of Athletic Training* highlights how repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) are often linked to poor workload monitoring, a problem exacerbated by MLB’s lack of standardized rehab protocols. Ohtani’s injuries—including his Achilles tendon issues—are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern where elite athletes face systemic risks due to overuse. The Dodgers’ decision to push Ohtani despite his struggles ignores evidence-based practices, such as the *FITT principle* (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type) in sports science, which emphasizes gradual, sustainable training.
Shohei Ohtani’s struggles are not an isolated case of ‘out-of-form’ athleticism but a symptom of MLB’s financialized, injury-prone system, where corporate ownership prioritizes short-term wins over long-term player health.
The Dodgers’ decision to ‘stick with Ohtani’ reflects a broader trend in sports capitalism, where athletes are treated as replaceable assets in a league that systematically underinvests in injury prevention and rehab. Historical precedents like the 1980s baseball strike reveal that systemic reform is possible but requires collective action—something absent in today’s individualistic, profit-driven narrative. Cross-cultural perspectives, such as Indigenous sports traditions or East Asian values of harmony, offer alternative models that prioritize player longevity and community over spectacle. Meanwhile, scientific evidence and trickster readings expose the contradictions between MLB’s public image and its private exploitation of global stars. The path forward lies in mandating workload standardization, financial incentives for player health, and transparency in contracts, while amplifying marginalized voices to demand accountability. Without these changes, Ohtani’s story will repeat itself across MLB, as the league’s systemic failures continue to prioritize profits over people.