Dodgers manager makes shock Shohei Ohtani statement ahead of the playoffs
The door isn’t completely closed for Los Angeles Dodgers fans to see Shohei Ohtani pitch before the season is over.
Ohtani, who underwent surgery on his elbow last September, has had limited scoring this season.
However, if you go with the Los Angeles TimesDodgers manager Dave Roberts did not rule out letting the two-way superstar pitch, despite him yet to take the mound in his new colors.
“I wouldn’t say, no, you can’t do that,” Roberts said. “I’m not going to close the door 100 percent.”
Due to his injury, Ohtani didn’t start pitching from a mound until last August. Given the short run-up, Roberts admitted it’s still a long way off for Ohtani to face hitters in a late-season game.
Shohei Ohtani could wear a Los Angeles Dodgers jersey before the MLB season ends
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has not ruled out Ohtani’s pitching with 15 games remaining
“If I were writing a movie script or a book, it would be a foregone conclusion that he would come out of rehab and throw the last pitch,” Roberts said.
“The problem is, he hasn’t thrown a leverage pitch in over a year, really. If he were to get out there and it goes wrong, it’s not worth the potential injury,” he added. “You just can’t duplicate the stress of that one inning. I just don’t think it’s worth it.”
While addressing a possible return to pitching for the Japanese star, Roberts indicated that his health will be the most important factor. He also noted that Ohtani is eager to get back on the mound.
“Shohei is on board,” Roberts said Friday on Sirius XM MLB Network Radio. “We’ll just have to see how it plays out.”
In his first year in LA, Ohtani is putting up historic numbers and proving himself worthy of the record-breaking 10-year, $700 million deal he signed with the Angels in Orange County.
Ohtani is hitting .292/.375/.617 with 47 home runs and 48 stolen bases in his first year with LA
Prior to a 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Friday, Ohtani was hitting .292/.375/.617 with 47 home runs and 48 stolen bases, en route to becoming the first 50-50 player in MLB history.
Before joining the Dodgers, Ohtani had a 3.01 ERA in 86 starts for the Angels.
Ohtani’s two-way service could come in handy amid the team’s laundry list of injuries. Dodgers starters Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw and others are missing time with nasty complications.
Despite this, Roberts’ team has an 87-60 record and leads the Diamondbacks in the NL West with 15 games remaining.