On Monday, Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes ended all conjecture about Shohei Ohtani’s future as a two-way player.
This season, Ohtani has only played as the Dodgers’ designated hitter. After suffering his second major elbow surgery last September, the Japanese superstar has continued to recover as a pitcher.
With Ohtani allegedly making progress toward his return to the mound, doubts have arisen regarding whether the two-way player should remain with just batting.
While meeting with reporters on Monday, Gomes was asked if Ohtani would be better off shutting down his pitching side.
The Dodgers’ management spoke unequivocally against the concept.
“[Ohtani’s] ability to do both brings exponential value,” Gomes told ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. “So, even if the offensive side takes a slight step back, the fact that he can do both remains extremely significant. Oh, and by the way, even if his offense struggles, it remains MVP-caliber. Yes, he has had a tremendous season. But the ability to do both is still vastly undervalued.”
Despite being a one-way player who never plays defense, Ohtani has established himself as one of the league’s finest players. Through 112 games this season, the Dodgers’ designated hitter has batted.302, with 34 home runs, 81 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.008.
It’s probable that when Ohtani was negotiating with teams as a free agent last winter, he specifically sought the ability to continue his two-way play. Regardless of the explanation, the Dodgers are clearly willing to allow Ohtani hit the mound again when he is ready.
