The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ 2026 season didn’t have the consequence they needed or anticipated, however basic supervisor Andrew Friedman did present the group and its fan base with just a little optimistic information on Wednesday because it pertains to subsequent season.
Shohei Ohtani won’t require any offseason surgical procedure to repair his left knee or proper arm points that restricted him at instances this season.
Meaning the Dodgers count on Ohtani to pitch subsequent season.
Dodgers count on Shohei Ohtani to pitch throughout 2027 season
Whereas acknowledging that he expects Ohtani to pitch subsequent season, Friedman additionally admitted he doesn’t fairly have an concept as to what that appears like simply but.
From ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez:
“That is unprecedented, what he is doing,” Friedman added. “So clearly for us it is unprecedented. We haven’t any expertise to attract from. We will not go have a look at how different conditions have performed out to attempt to study from the great and the dangerous. We now have to all simply determine it out collectively. And I am not solely anticipating him to pitch; we’re enthusiastic about him pitching. So now it is about: How will we try this? How will we handle by a protracted season and have him at his greatest going into October? That is a problem.”
Ohtani had previously said that he intends to pitch next season, and now that the Dodgers agree with that evaluation, he appears to be on monitor to take action. Not less than for now.
Since becoming a member of the Dodgers, Ohtani’s capability to pitch has been dramatically restricted by accidents and surgical procedures, and thru his first three years with the staff, he has solely appeared in 28 video games as a pitcher, throwing simply 132.2 innings.
He didn’t pitch in any respect through the 2024 season and was restricted in 2025 as he recovered from the surgical procedure that stored him off the mound the earlier season.
His final pitching look in 2026 again on July 3.
When he has been wholesome sufficient to take the mound, he has been probably the greatest right-handed pitchers in baseball and appeared like he was placing collectively a Cy Younger-caliber season in 2026. The Dodgers simply haven’t been in a position to see sufficient of it.
The accidents additionally appeared to be impacting him on the plate within the second half of the 2026 season as he went into the playoffs on a horrible stoop, with it lasting all through the complete postseason.
After posting an OPS over 1.000 in every of the earlier three seasons, it went right down to .889 this season. Nonetheless elite, however not what now we have change into accustomed to seeing from him.
The damage points have impacted his pitching way over his hitting all through his profession, and it’s one other reminder as to how tough it’s to attempt to be a two-way participant within the fashionable recreation. The actual fact he has been in a position to do as a lot as he has, for so long as he has, is a testomony to his general expertise and greatness.
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