Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes has put an end to speculation about Shohei Ohtani’s future as a two-way player. This season, Ohtani has served exclusively as the Dodgers’ designated hitter while recovering from his second major elbow surgery last September.
With reports indicating that Ohtani is making progress toward returning to the mound, questions have surfaced about whether he should continue his two-way role or focus solely on hitting.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Gomes was asked whether it might be in Ohtani’s best interest to stop pitching altogether. The Dodgers GM firmly dismissed the idea.
“His ability to do both brings exponential value,” Gomes told reporters, according to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. “Even if his offense takes a small step back, he’s still so valuable because he can do both. And by the way, if his offense does take a step back, it’s still MVP-caliber. Yes, he’s had an amazing season, but the ability to excel as both a hitter and a pitcher is still somehow underappreciated.”
Despite not playing defense, Ohtani has proven to be one of the league’s best players. As the Dodgers’ DH this season, he has posted a .302 batting average with 34 home runs, 81 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.008 through 112 games.
It’s possible that Ohtani insisted on continuing his two-way play when negotiating as a free agent last offseason. Regardless of the reasoning, the Dodgers are fully committed to allowing Ohtani to take the mound again once he’s ready.
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