Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is away with Team Japan, and while he will not be pitching in a formal capacity, he has been tasked with preparing for the start of the season.
Ohtani is strictly hitting in the World Baseball Classic this time around, putting his pitching aside despite his past success.
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According to him, he and the Dodgers organization decided to save his pitching for the 2026 MLB season and really push to achieve the most success possible as a pitcher.
“He seems like he’s on a mission, pitching-wise,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “Whenever we’ve seen him on a mission, good things happen.”
Feb 18, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher/Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) on the mound during Los Angeles Dodger workouts at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
Despite the knockout rounds of the WBC coming and a potential opening for Ohtani to pitch serving as a tempting proposition, Ohtani has doubled down on his commitment to avoid pitching in the tournament itself, though he is still getting work in on the side.
Shohei Ohtani’s pitching preparations with Japan
According to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, Ohtani totaled the equivalent of four innings during a live batting practice session on Thursday, throwing a total of 59 pitches against 18 batters.
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He struck out seven and broke some bats, and after the session, he expressed confidence in his preparation.
The Dodgers and Ohtani seemingly want him to make a push for a Cy Young award, and to do so, he needs to reach a certain number of volume innings.
The coaching staff developed a plan for Ohtani to prepare while he is away from the team, including simulated games and bullpen sessions.
“I’ll do everything in my power to make sure the quality and the volume are in a good place,” Ohtani said. “With the limited opportunities I do have, being in a live situation, I just have to do the best I can in those situations.”
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As for manager Dave Roberts, he just wants his player healthy and ready for the season, taking everything into account and making sure that the Japanese star is ready for curtain time.
“I think it’s up to all of us to be mindful of workloads and short-term, long-term, and all that stuff, which we are,” Roberts said. “As a player, you just want to encourage guys to be prepared and go compete your tail off.”