"After a record-setting 2024 season as the Los Angeles Dodgers' full-time designated hitter, Shohei Ohtani resumed two-way responsibilities this year. Ohtani made his Dodgers pitching debut on June 16 and threw one inning against the San Diego Padres. He was methodically built up throughout the year and reached the team's targeted goal of six innings. Ohtani then made three consecutive starts of six innings during the playoffs before throwing 2.1 frames on short rest in Game 7 of the World Series."
"After logging a combined 67.1 innings in 2025, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes suggested that Ohtani could be on a normal pitching schedule next year, via Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group: "I think that's a conversation we'll have with him as it gets deeper into the offseason, but it'll probably look more like a normal schedule than last year, but obviously that can be fluid," Gomes said. "And everything we'll do is with the big picture mindset.""
"Even if he throws on a regular schedule in 2026, the Dodgers will still presumably look to give Ohtani as much extra rest as possible, just as they do with their other pitchers. The Dodgers utilized that strategy to perfection this year, which resulted in Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto being on top of their game when it mattered most."
Shohei Ohtani returned to two-way play in 2025 after serving as a full-time designated hitter in 2024. He debuted on June 16, was gradually built up to six-inning starts, and produced consecutive six-inning playoff starts before pitching 2.1 frames on short rest in World Series Game 7. Ohtani totaled 67.1 combined innings for the year. Plans for 2026 likely aim for a more normal pitching schedule while preserving flexibility and prioritizing long-term workload management. Extra rest is emphasized because of his hitting duties and mixed batting results following starts. Regular- and postseason pitching metrics reflect strong strikeout rates.
Read at Dodger Blue
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