DENVER (AP) — The National League manager for the All-Star Game already has ruled out one potential pitcher — Shohei Ohtani.
Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts kiddingly shut down the thought of using Ohtani in the Midsummer Classic with a quick, “no,” before Los Angeles' 9-7 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
Roberts was less clear about when Ohtani might take the mound again. It could be Saturday in Kansas City against the Royals.
“We’ll see. We’ll see,” said Roberts, who's coaching the All-Star Game after winning last year's NL pennant — and then World Series. "I’ve got to make sure I keep it open-ended."
In his last outing Sunday, Ohtani threw 12 of 18 pitches for strikes against Washington as he struck out two. His fastball topped out at 98.8 mph. On June 16 versus San Diego, Ohtani made his first big league pitching appearance since 2023. He threw 28 pitches over an inning, surrendering two hits and one earned run.
The three-time MVP didn't pitch in 2024 while recovering from arm surgery during his first season after signing a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers.
He's batting .289 with 27 homers and 51 RBIs after his performance Tuesday. His homer in the sixth inning against the Rockies was the 300th of his career across Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball, according to research on Baseball Reference.
“I'm sure we will do a toast for him or something at some point,” teammate Mookie Betts said.
As a designated hitter, Ohtani leads the NL in Phase 1 of fan voting through Monday for the All-Star Game on July 15 in Atlanta.
“That’s great. The fans love him,” Roberts said. “He’s the best player, and it’s going to be exciting for the fans to watch him in Atlanta.”
Any chance Ohtani participates in the Home Run Derby?
“That is a question for Shohei,” Roberts said. “I’m staying out of that.”
Any chance he hits leadoff?
“Yes,” Roberts said.
Notes: Righty Tyler Glasnow (shoulder) threw two scoreless innings Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He walked three and struck out one. “I think he came out of it fine,” Roberts said. “For the fact that it was his first (rehab appearance), we feel really good about it. ... I think overall, in totality, we’re in a good spot.” ... Righty Luis García (right adductor strain) traveled to Denver. “Not sure when his activation will be but you’re looking, obviously, in the next few days,” Roberts said. “It’s a good possibility.”
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani reacts while interacting with Washington Nationals second baseman Luis García Jr. (2) during the sixth inning of a baseball game, in Los Angeles, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to a Washington Nationals batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
ADEN, Yemen (AP) — Saudi warplanes have reportedly struck on Friday forces in southern Yemen backed by the United Arab Emirates, a separatist leader says.
This comes as a Saudi-led operation attempts to take over camps of the Southern Transitional Council, or STC, in the governorate of Haramout that borders Saudi Arabia.
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE rose after the STC moved last month into Yemen’s governorates of Hadramout and Mahra and seized an oil-rich region. The move pushed out forces affiliated with the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces, a group aligned with the coalition in fighting the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
Meanwhile, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen accused the head of the STC of blocking a Saudi mediation delegation from landing in the southern city of Aden.
The STC deputy and former Hamdrmout governor, Ahmed bin Breik, said in a statement that the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces advanced toward the camps, but the separatists refused to withdraw, apparently leading to the airstrikes.
Mohamed al-Nakib, spokesperson for the STC-backed Southern Shield Forces, also known as Dera Al-Janoub, said Saudi airstrikes caused fatalities, without providing details. The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify that claim.
Al-Nakib also accused Saudi Arabia in a video on X of using “Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaeda militias” in a "large-scale attack " early Friday that he claimed sepratists were able to repel.
He likened the latest developments to Yemen’s 1994 civil war, “except that this time it is under the cover of Saudi aviation operations.”
Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of Hadramout who was chosen Friday by Yemen's internationally recognized government to command the Saudi-led forces in the governorate, refuted STC claims, calling them “ridiculous” and showing intentions of escalation instead of a peaceful handover, according Okaz newspaper, which is aligned with the Saudi government.
Earlier on Friday, al-khanbashi called the current operation of retrieving seized areas “peaceful.”
“This operation is not a declaration of war and does not seek escalation,” al-Khanbashi said in a speech aired on state media. “This is a responsible pre-emptive measure to remove weapons and prevent chaos and the camps from being used to undermine the security in Hadramout,” he added.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen demands the withdrawal of STC forces from the two governorates as part of de-escalation efforts. The STC has so far refused to hand over its weapons and camps.
The coalition's spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said Friday on X that Saudi-backed naval forces were deployed across the Arabian Sea to carry out inspections and combat smuggling.
In his post on X, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, said the kingdom had tried “all efforts with STC” for weeks "to stop the escalation" and to urge the separatists to leave Hadramout and Mahra, only to be faced with “continued intransigence and rejection from Aidarous al-Zubaidi," the STC head.
Al-Jaber said the latest development was not permitting the Saudi delegation's jet to land in Aden, despite having agreed on its arrival with some STC leaders to find a solution that serves “everyone and the public interest.”
Yemen’s transport ministry, aligned with STC, said Saudi Arabia imposed on Thursday requirements mandating that flights to and from Aden International Airport undergo inspection in Jeddah. The ministry expressed “shock” and denounced the decision. There was no confirmation from Saudi authorities.
ِA spokesperson with the transport ministry told the AP late Thursday that all flights from and to the UAE were suspended until Saudi Arabia reverses these reported measures.
Yemen has been engulfed in a civil war for more than a decade, with the Houthis controlling much of the northern regions, while a Saudi-UAE-backed coalition supports the internationally recognized government in the south. However, the UAE also helps the southern separatists who call for South Yemen to secede once again from Yemen. Those aligned with the council have increasingly flown the flag of South Yemen, which was a separate country from 1967-1990.
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Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Fatma Khaled in Cairo contributed to this report.
Southern Yemen soldiers of Southern Transitional Council (STC) at a check point, in Aden, Yemen, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo)
