Shohei Ohtani’s debut as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers seems to be further away than expected. Although it had been suggested that it would be sometime in May, the organization has acted cautiously to protect him from a relapse and, above all, to take care of him so that he has a long career.
The two-way talent of Ohtani to pitch and hit has made him a sensation in the Major Leagues, but the risk alerts in his shoulder have kept him away from the mound since his arrival to the Dodgers last season, where he shone as a hitter and was able to savor his first title in the MLB, being a key piece in the World Series.
After arriving injured to the Dodgers, Ohtani was only available as a designated hitter and excelled at the plate with offensive production that allowed him to open the 50-50 club, with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, while recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2023 that still has him out of the rotation.
In recent weeks, Ohtani has thrown bullpen sessions and his manager Dave Roberts has been optimistic with what he has shown, without daring to offer a tentative date.
Shohei Ohtani’s career could be in jeopardy
When the Dodgers signed Ohtani to a $700 million, 10-year contract, with deferred payments at the Japanese’s suggestion, the plan was to take advantage of his two-way talent, knowing that the first season would be one of recovery.
According to a recent report by Bob Nightengale in Dodgers Nation, the MLB expert hinted that if Ohtani does return to the mound, it may not be for long.
“I’d be more interested to see what happens after next year,” Nightengale told Dodgers Nation, in a chat with Doug McKain in which he added: “I think he’ll be back in the rotation in 2026, and then we’ll see what happens. I think his passion is pure as a hitter.”
The Dodgers know they must be responsible for taking care of Ohtani’s health and that of all their players. The Japanese is an exceptional jewel, even if he is analyzed only as a hitter, perhaps nothing else surpasses Aaron Judge. So when the time comes, they will have to decide whether to have him for many years at the plate or for a short time in both positions, because of the natural wear and tear on his body.
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