Shohei Ohtani (32, LA Dodgers) is embarking on rehabilitation without surgery after a grueling season marred by arm and knee injuries. The Dodgers are optimistic about Ohtani’s return to two-way play for the 2027 season but plan to carefully consider his usage to prevent injury recurrence.
MLB.com reports that Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, outlined Ohtani’s health status and future plans during a season-ending press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Friedman confirmed that Ohtani won’t require surgery for his right bicep and left knee injuries, projecting his full recovery by the 2024 season opener.
He expressed full confidence in Ohtani’s return to pitching next year.
However, Friedman stressed the need for careful evaluation of Ohtani’s ability to maintain peak performance throughout the regular season while continuing his two-way role into the postseason.
It hasn’t delved into specifics yet, Friedman stated, but the goal is to maximize Ohtani’s contributions at the plate and on the mound during the regular season while ensuring he’s in top form for October baseball.
This season, Ohtani led the team with 30 home runs and posted an impressive 0.889 on-base plus slugging (OPS) as a hitter. On the mound, he made 14 starts, going 8-2 with a stellar 1.79 earned run average (ERA).
However, injuries began to take their toll midseason.
Ohtani had been dealing with discomfort in his right bicep and left knee since June, ultimately making his last pitching appearance on July 3.
His hitting performance took a nosedive from mid-August, reportedly due to increased training intensity for his pitching comeback, which exacerbated his condition.
He landed on the injured list (IL) in September and struggled to regain his previous form upon return.
Ohtani’s postseason woes continued, as he hit a mere .192 (5-for-26). His lone extra-base hit was a three-run homer in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers’ quest for a third straight World Series title ended with a sweep at the hands of Milwaukee.
Post-season, Ohtani reflected that the’s still processing the lessons from this year. He’ll be reviewing his treatment and training regimens from scratch to prepare for next season.
The Dodgers are considering adjusting their management approach to sustain Ohtani’s two-way role long-term.
They’re even exploring the possibility of easing Ohtani back into the rotation, potentially holding him out of the starting lineup on Opening Day, even if he’s healthy.
Friedman emphasized that the key is determining when to resume his two-way role. If he starts pitching on Opening Day, it needs to carefully manage and assess his performance in that first month.
He concluded that Ohtani’s two-way capability is incredibly valuable. It must approach every aspect meticulously to find the optimal strategy moving forward.
