Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani has confirmed that a pitching shutdown is the most likely outcome for the remainder of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, with the Japanese superstar planning to focus exclusively on hitting to avoid worsening a combination of physical ailments.
Speaking through a translator and reported by outlets including The Athletic, Ohtani addressed his status after returning to the Dodgers lineup as the designated hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday at Dodger Stadium. The 32-year-old had missed four consecutive games due to a left knee issue, alongside lingering soreness in his right biceps and neck. He has not appeared on the mound since July 3, when he pitched six innings against the San Diego Padres, allowing three earned runs with six strikeouts.
Asked whether he expects to pitch again this year, Ohtani told reporters that the answer was “most likely no.”
“The thing I was more focused on was to make sure that the pitching wouldn’t cause the most worst scenario, which was for me to not be able to play at all,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, describing the restriction as disappointing.
Avoiding the throwing motion allows Ohtani to sidestep the heavy arm stress and distinct physical workload required of a pitcher, preserving his availability as a daily offensive weapon for a Dodgers club positioned for October.
Balancing Act and Offensive Output
Ohtani’s value to Los Angeles rests in his rare capacity to alter games as both an elite hitter and an elite pitcher. However, managing multiple physical complaints—specifically the left knee problem and soreness in the biceps and neck—forced a practical pivot.
While his recent numbers at the plate have cooled, including an 0-for-3 performance with a walk in Monday’s 6-3 victory over Cincinnati that left him 2-for-26 over a seven-game stretch, his season-long statistics remain formidable. Across the 2026 campaign, Ohtani is batting .277 with a .380 on-base percentage and a .522 slugging percentage, alongside 30 home runs and 80 RBIs.
The Dodgers face a straightforward strategic calculation: rather than gambling on a pitching comeback that could jeopardize his entire availability, the club is prioritizing a hitting-only role that keeps his bat in the heart of the order. Manager Dave Roberts has emphasized player health and team needs, indicating no intention to rush the star back to the mound.
Strong Pitching Foundation Interrupted
Ohtani’s likely shutdown arrives after a dominant stretch as a starting pitcher. Before a July pause, he compiled an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts, covering 85.2 innings and providing frontline production to the rotation.
The interruption follows a cautious rehabilitation timeline. Ohtani did not pitch at all during the 2024 season while recovering from major elbow surgery, making every subsequent start a focal point for workload management. Though he managed a 20-pitch bullpen session in August, the accumulation of lower-body and upper-body discomfort has halted his progress.
Nothing in the current reporting indicates that the Dodgers or Ohtani view the shutdown as anything more than a temporary course correction. Ohtani has pointed to the season as a learning experience to refine future preparation, leaning on his prior experience in 2024, when he played exclusively as a designated hitter and helped guide Los Angeles deep into the postseason.
Postseason Adjustments and Future Outlook
Without Ohtani in the starting rotation, the Dodgers will rely on their remaining starters and bullpen depth to cover high-leverage innings as the regular season reaches its final stretch. Building a pitcher back up after more than two months away carries inherent risk, leaving little room for experimentation with the playoffs imminent.
For now, the focus remains on keeping Ohtani healthy, productive at the plate, and clear of the additional strain associated with pitching. The offseason will offer an opportunity to evaluate his two-way workload structure, but the immediate priority is locking down a playoff berth with a full-time designated hitter.
