The Los Angeles Dodgers may have a generational ace in Shohei Ohtani, but their cautious plan to slowly reintroduce him as a pitcher is stirring controversy.
After missing the 2024 season on the mound due to elbow surgery, Ohtani is finally back pitching, but only for a single inning at a time. In his two most recent starts, he threw just one inning apiece, including a sharp 18-pitch outing against the Nationals where he notched two strikeouts and didn’t allow a run.
To some, that’s careful load management. To others, it’s confusion disguised as strategy.
Former Exec Questions Dodgers’ Strategy
Former Marlins president David Samson didn’t hold back. On his podcast, Samson questioned the approach and slammed Dodgers manager Dave Roberts:
“If I’m in the media in LA, I’ve got to ask Dave Roberts, ‘What exactly is your plan with Ohtani?’”
Roberts did answer. When pressed by LA Times reporter Jack Harris on when Ohtani will return to a full starter’s workload, Roberts admitted:
“That’s kind of TBD… I don’t even know what that’s going to look like… Six innings and 90 pitches, I don’t even know if we’ll get to that point.”
To Samson, that admission was more concerning than clarifying. He accused the Dodgers of using Ohtani’s unique two-way player status to skirt rehab norms, arguing that tossing one inning every five or six days “isn’t even spring training bullpen buildup.”
Balancing Health and Value
To be fair, Shohei Ohtani remains the Dodgers’ most valuable hitter. The team has every reason to protect his arm, especially given his $700 million contract. Roberts has even indicated the Dodgers are willing to tweak their lineup and schedule to accommodate Ohtani’s health first.
Still, critics argue the team could’ve allowed Ohtani to ramp up more effectively through rehab assignments, rather than treating MLB starts like bullpen sessions.
With the All-Star Game fast approaching, fans and media alike are waiting to see if Ohtani can eventually return to full pitching form or if the one-inning trend is here to stay.
