Shohei Ohtani unlikely to pitch for rest of season

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani announced on Monday night that he is “most likely” done pitching for the remainder of the Major League Baseball season. The 32-year-old designated hitter and pitcher plans to concentrate exclusively on hitting as he deals with a series of physical setbacks ahead of the playoffs.

Multiple physical issues

Ohtani returned to the Dodgers lineup on Labor Day Monday after missing four consecutive games. In his first game back, an 0-for-3 performance with two strikeouts and a walk during a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, he showed lingering effects of physical strain that worsened during a 10th-inning plate appearance the previous Wednesday.

The player has faced several distinct physical issues in recent months. He experienced discomfort along the right side of his neck and extending into his arm during last week’s game against Cincinnati. In addition, he has dealt with ongoing soreness in his left knee for months and experienced a flare-up of a right biceps issue during a bullpen session on August 28, which was the last time he threw a baseball. Prior to his four-day rest, Ohtani experienced a slump at the plate, collecting seven hits and striking out 20 times across 51 at-bats.

Pitching record and team context

Ohtani last appeared on the mound in a game on July 3. Before pitching activities were paused, he recorded an 8-2 record with a 1.79 earned run average over 14 starts, striking out 95 batters and issuing 26 walks in 85 and two-thirds innings. Offensively, he holds a .277/.380/.522 batting line with 30 home runs and 11 stolen bases overall this season.

The Dodgers possess a starting rotation that includes Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, allowing the team to prioritize Ohtani’s offensive contributions. Since the start of July, the Los Angeles offense has ranked near the bottom of Major League Baseball in several categories, sitting 23rd in OPS (.701) and 20th in scoring average at 4.31 runs per game.

Manager reaction and path forward

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts supported Ohtani’s transition to hitting exclusively, stating that continuing to pitch right now “just doesn’t make any sense.” Roberts noted that while placing Ohtani on the injured list is not under consideration, the team’s medical staff will evaluate him every day to manage his presence in the batting order.

Speaking through an interpreter, Ohtani described the situation as “disappointing” but stated that he intends to use the experience to adjust his preparation for future seasons while ensuring he remains healthy enough to contribute as a hitter down the stretch.

Background

Shohei Ohtani is a Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers known for performing simultaneously as a top-tier starting pitcher and power hitter, a dual role rarely seen in modern professional baseball.