Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Is Pitching Worth the Risk for Dodgers’ Star Shohei Ohtani?

Realistically, it's not.

Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

In 2018 spring training, fresh from Japan’s NPB, Shohei Ohtani pitched 2.2 innings and gave up three home runs. Across five spring games, three against minor leaguers, he posted an 11.7 ERA on the mound and hit just .125/.222/.125 at the plate. Naturally, the baseball world rushed to declare him overhyped, unprepared, and incapable of handling both roles in the majors.

Little did they know.

By season’s end, Ohtani had won AL Rookie of the Year. Six years later, his resume includes four All-Star selections, three MVPs, two Hank Aaron Awards, two home run titles, four All-MLB First Team honors, and, most recently, a World Series championship. Oh, and somewhere in between, he signed a record-shattering $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With all that in mind, let’s break it down. Ohtani started 10 games in 2018, logging 51.2 innings. After a delayed start to the 2020 season, when Shohei Ohtani finally made it to the mound, he had a rather forgettable experience. He gave up five runs without recording an out before being pulled from the game, opening his season with a loss and an infinite ERA. Following his second start, he began feeling discomfort in his right arm, and an MRI later confirmed a flexor strain in his right elbow. As a result, he was shut down for the remainder of the 2020 season.

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However, he found his rhythm between 2021 and 2023, starting 74 games and pitching 428.1 innings with a 3.01 career ERA. His hitting speaks for itself – .282 average, 227 home runs, 147 stolen bases, .947 OPS. Just last night, he hit a walk-off homer on his bobblehead night to keep the Dodgers’ perfect 8-0 streak alive.

BALLGAME.

Shohei Ohtani sends everyone home … with his bobblehead! pic.twitter.com/Js8h2qVaLw
— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2025

At this point, Ohtani’s bat alone justifies his $700 million price tag. Which forces the next question: Should Shohei Ohtani be pitching?

The Big Injury Question

Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023, his second, after the first in 2018. That meant no pitching in 2024. The workload and injury risks of a two-way player are immense, and the Dodgers, of all teams, know the cost. Yet, Ohtani has been clear: He wants to pitch. He wants to be a two-way star for as long as he can.

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This isn’t a new conversation. Back in 2017, when choosing between the Dodgers and Angels, one major factor was the then-existent AL DH rule, which allowed him to hit while pitching. Now that the universal DH is in place, his move to the Dodgers made sense. But he has yet to take the mound in blue.

The Fighters in Japan’s NPB were among the few teams willing to let Ohtani be a two-way player, a decision that shaped his career. At the time, most scouts, including the Fighters’ Takashi Ofuchi, assumed he’d have to choose between pitching and hitting. That changed when they saw him play.

Since then, he’s proven to be more than just a competent pitcher. Across 86 starts, he’s 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 11.4 K/9. But his bat is what makes him generational—226 home runs, 568 RBIs, and that .947 OPS.

Can the Dodgers Live Without Shohei Ohtani’s Arm?

Absolutely. The rotation is stacked. The bullpen is deep. They don’t need Ohtani on the mound to chase a championship. But can they survive without his bat? Probably not. And a pitching injury that sidelines him from hitting would hurt the Dodgers far more than anything else. It’s also worth noting that Ohtani was one of the most carefully managed pitchers in Anaheim, yet still required two surgeries which is not an encouraging trend.

When Will Ohtani Pitch Again?

For now, the Dodgers are supporting his return to the mound, as they should. They have the luxury of taking things slow. This spring, everything was on track for a comeback, despite shoulder surgery in November 2024. In late February, his throwing program was put on hold. Initially, May was floated as a possible return date, but delays have made that uncertain. Rest assured, the Dodgers will not be rushing him back.

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Ultimately, whatever gets Ohtani to October at full strength, whether that means pitching again or focusing solely on hitting, is the path they’ll take. They can win another World Series without his arm. Without his bat? That’s a different story.

Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.