Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is wrapping up one of the greatest seasons in MLB history by a single player. On track to win his third Most Valuable Player Award, the next step for Ohtani would be to return to form as MLB’s two-way star.
Ohtani has never pitched in a Dodgers uniform. The perennial All-Star last took the mound for the Los Angeles Angels on August 23, 2023, against the Cincinnati Reds. He left that start with elbow discomfort, which later required surgery that would prevent him from pitching during the 2024 regular season.
- Shohei Ohtani stats 2024 (ESPN): .301/.383/.640, 1.023 OPS, 53 home runs, 123 RBI, 55 stolen bases, 34 doubles
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Los Angeles still signed Ohtani with the acknowledgment there was some risk that he might never pitch again. However, the two-time AL MVP has made every effort to return to the mound for the Dodgers. In September, MLB rumors emerged that he could join the Dodgers bullpen for the playoffs. For a team that has been decimated by pitching injuries, it would be a huge boost for Los Angeles.
Speaking to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, Dodgers’ president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman made it pretty clear that fans won’t see Ohtani pitch in the MLB playoffs this year.
“We aren’t even thinking about that right now. This is like January for him. He’s just barely a year out from Tommy John. To me, he’s not really an option.”
Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman on if Shohei Ohtani will pitch in the MLB playoffs
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As much as fans want to see Ohtani back on the mound, the approach Friedman and the Dodgers are taking is smart. Even with his history of coming out of the bullpen in big moments, serving as Team Japan’s closer in the World Baseball Classic, there is a lengthy road to recover from elbow surgery.
Teams typically want to send a pitcher out on a rehab assignment, allowing them to both build up their pitch count and face live hitters before returning to the majors. That’s obviously not an option for Los Angeles since it would take Ohtani out of the Dodgers lineup.
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- Shohei Ohtani pitching stats (career): 3.01 ERA< 1.08 WHIP, 608-173 K-BB, 3.5 K/BB ratio, .200 batting average allowed to opponents in 481.2 innings pitched
Friedman made it very clear where Ohtani is in his rehab process, essentially at the stage pitchers are in January before spring training. Using that comparison, Ohtani is realistically several months away from being ready to contribute as a pitcher to a major league team. Putting him out there as part of the Dodgers rotation would risk a setback, which could jeopardize his future on the mound. Ultimately, fans will just have to wait to see Ohtani take the mound in a Dodgers uniform until 2025.
