Shohei Ohtani has enjoyed a historic 2024 season for the Los Angeles Dodgers as their full-time designated hitter while he recovers from right elbow surgery.
The two-way star has made tremendous progress and is inching closer to facing hitters for the first time since his operation.
“It’s on the heels of this meeting too. We’re actually essentially at a fork in the road trying to figure out which way we go,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Roberts explained that the team has considered shutting Ohtani down from throwing until the offseason, but also sees the benefits of him continuing to build up in October.
“I think you can argue both,” Roberts began. “I think that you could argue there’s a shutdown to rest, and there’s also an argument to continue to build up, face hitters and build a little bit more going into the off-season. But that’s more for the training staff and the doctors.”
There was a thought that Ohtani could potentially pitch for the Dodgers in the postseason. However, the two sides are planning to meet in the near future to discuss plans of a return to the mound next year.
“We haven’t had it yet,” Roberts said of the meeting. “That’s more again, kind of talking about what the plan is for the next couple weeks.
“But like I said, I just don’t see it happening. It’s very unlikely. But the meeting is going to happen kind of for Shohei to kind of figure out the plan of action over the next week or two, which is needed.”
Ohtani’s last pitching appearance was Aug. 23, 2023, when he threw just 1.1 scoreless innings before leaving with the right elbow injury that ultimately required surgery.
Shohei Ohtani 60-60 season? ‘Anything’s possible’
With four games remaining on the Dodgers’ regular-season schedule, Ohtani is at 53 home runs and 56 stolen bases for the year. He would need to go on an unprecedented tear to have a chance for 60-60.
“I would say it’s unrealistic. Very unrealistic. But with him, anything’s possible,” Roberts said of the possibility. “But it’s certainly very unrealistic. It’s just, man, what a tremendous season.”
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