The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting ready to play postseason baseball yet again, and how they use Shohei Ohtani will be interesting.
Ohtani has started 13 games as a pitcher and has a 3.29 ERA. As a starter, Ohtani is allowed to remain in the game as the designated hitter even after he is pulled from the game as a pitcher. However, he has not gone longer than five innings in any start yet, as the Dodgers manage his innings after not pitching all of last season.
Recently, Ohtani told Japanese media he is open to playing in the outfield if it means the Dodgers can use him as a reliever. If Ohtani is pulled from the game as a reliever, he would not be able to stay in the game as a DH. While Ohtani could be a weapon out of the bullpen, Dave Roberts quickly shut down the idea of him playing in the outfield.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 17: (L-R) Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers speak in the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on…
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 17: (L-R) Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers speak in the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
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“No,” Roberts said when asked if Ohtani playing in the outfield is a real consideration, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
Ohtani was famously used as a reliever in the World Baseball Classic to clinch a championship for Japan. However, in that situation, it was at the end of the game, meaning he would not be needed in the outfield. However, Roberts shed light on the risks of that now, given the fact that Ohtani underwent surgery and did not pitch last season.
“I know that we are going to be talking about it,” Roberts said per Ardaya. “I think the one thing you can say, though, is that we use him once every seven days, eight days, nine days, 10 days in between his last start. So to think that now it’s feasible for a guy that’s just coming off what he’s done last year or didn’t do last year, to then now put him in a role that’s very, very unique. Because he’s a very methodical, disciplined, routine-driven person. The ‘pen is the complete opposite, right? You potentially could be taking on risk, and we’ve come this far, certainly with the kid gloves and managing (him).”
Ohtani has played outfield before. However, that experience is limited to 8 1/3 innings across seven games for the Los Angeles Angels. Roberts also cited the “moving parts” that go into getting Ohtani ready to play in the outfield. He would need to fit outfield work into his already busy schedule, which involves getting ready as a hitter and a pitcher.
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