Sad news from the U.S. and Japanese baseball worlds! Shohei Ohtani expected to be unable to pitch this season: "No pitching plans for the foreseeable future"

*This content was translated by AI.

The comeback of "MLB superstar" Shohei Ohtani (32, Los Angeles Dodgers) to the mound this season is effectively off the table. While he is expected to return soon as a hitter, it is unlikely we will see him appear on the mound as a pitcher.

According to The Athletic, Dave Roberts, manager of the Dodgers (54), expressed skepticism about Ohtani's pitching comeback in an interview with local reporters ahead of Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. "We can't calculate it," Roberts said, noting that only mathematical possibilities remain.

The Athletic interpreted this statement as meaning "Ohtani's pitching season is effectively over." At this late stage of the regular season, there is simply not enough time to build up for a potential October postseason starting pitcher appearance.

Ohtani has been sidelined for four consecutive games due to overlapping injuries: left knee pain, right biceps strain, and neck issues. He is expected to miss Wednesday's game as well. This marks the longest absence since he joined the Dodgers ahead of the 2023 season. Fortunately, there are signs of hope for his return as a hitter. Ohtani has been conducting normal batting practice since the 6th, and Manager Roberts indicated that if no issues arise, he could rejoin the lineup as early as Saturday's game.

However, the clock for pitcher Ohtani has stopped. According to The Athletic, Roberts also shook his head when asked about the possibility of Ohtani appearing in a one-inning opener role during the postseason. In fact, since halting batting practice, Ohtani has not thrown a single pitch, and there are currently no plans to resume his pitching program for the foreseeable future.

Ohtani has not appeared on an MLB mound since the July 4 game against the San Diego Padres. He attempted a comeback in August by resuming bullpen sessions but suffered a sharp decline in hitting performance, with a batting average of .203 and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .0742, indicating the strain of managing both pitching and hitting duties. Clear signs of physical distress were evident, including difficulty shaking off his arm after swings and failing to generate proper lower-body power. Prior to his scheduled appearance in a game against the Detroit Tigers in August, Ohtani admitted during a bullpen session that he was not at 100% condition, leading to the cancellation of that outing.

The Dodgers have also decided against pushing for an overly aggressive return. Aiming for their third consecutive World Series title, the Dodgers have already acquired Tarcisio Skubal via trade and built a solid autumn rotation featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and left-handed reliever/starter Eric Lauer, who can handle both bullpen and starting roles. With Ohtani currently leading the team in home runs (30) and OPS (.906), protecting his bat appears to be the top priority for securing a championship.

The U.S. and Japanese baseball communities, which had eagerly awaited Ohtani's first full "two-way" return since 2023, are now left with deep disappointment. This season, Ohtani is expected to lead the team's playoff journey from the batter's box rather than the mound.

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*This content was translated by AI.