In a high-stakes showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, Shohei Ohtani crushed two home runs to help power the Dodgers past Aaron Judge and the Bronx Bombers.
Ohtani, recovering from his second UCL procedure, has yet to pitch for Los Angeles since joining the club.
Despite his offensive fireworks, league-leading 22 home runs, a .298 batting average, a .395 on-base percentage, and a staggering 1.062 OPS, questions continue to loom about whether he should return to pitching at all in 2025.
Former Yankees legend and FOX Sports analyst Alex Rodriguez weighed in over the weekend, offering a sobering perspective amid the Ohtani mania.
“It’s a tough decision for me. In 2023, Ohtani had the best repertoire of any pitcher in the game. But if Ohtani gets hurt and makes it 15 pitchers on the IL for the Dodgers, the season is over. For me, the risk-reward is not there,” Rodriguez said in the FOX Sports interview.
A superstar’s health vs. a team’s desperation
The dilemma facing the Dodgers is clear. Ohtani’s elite pitching talent could drastically elevate the rotation if healthy. But after undergoing two elbow surgeries, the most recent being a UCL repair that sidelined him for the entire 2024 season, any misstep could spell disaster.
And right now, disaster is something the Dodgers can’t afford. The team’s rotation has been ravaged by injuries, forcing management into a precarious balancing act.
On one hand, Ohtani pitching again could anchor a depleted staff and transform the Dodgers into an unstoppable force. On the other hand, if he rushes back and gets hurt, they might lose him for another extended period-or worse.
Rodriguez’s concerns carry significant weight. As a seasoned veteran and longtime observer of the game, he’s witnessed firsthand how injuries can derail not only individual careers but entire championship hopes.
The Dodgers, currently leading their division and eyeing another deep postseason run, must consider the full implications.
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