Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said last week that he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani making his pitching debut with the team during the upcoming playoffs.
During a Friday appearance on “MLB Now,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes essentially shut down the rumor.
The 30-year-old Japanese sensation is in the final stages of his recovery from last September’s elbow surgery.
“Dave Roberts opened the door to the possibility of [Ohtani] pitching this postseason. Where are you on that?” veteran sportscaster Brian Kenny asked.
“That feels very unlikely right now. I think he’s just going through his throwing progression and he feels really good, which is important, but at this point I don’t see him pitching in the postseason,” Gomes responded.
“Ok, so you’re not planning on that? That won’t suddenly pop up as a thing?” Kenny confirmed.
“No, that’s not in the plans as of now,” Gomes said.
Gomes’ words come one day after Ohtani had one of MLB’s best individual hitting performances of all time during the Dodgers’ 20-4 win against the Miami Marlins on Thursday. The rout enabled Los Angeles to clinch its 12th straight playoff berth.
The two-time AL MVP created the 50-50 club in jaw-dropping fashion, finishing the victory 6-for-6 with three home runs, two doubles, 10 RBI and two steals, falling a triple shy of the cycle.
He enters Friday with 51 home runs and 51 stolen bases during the 2024 campaign, and the team still has nine more regular season games left.
Ohtani is the frontrunner to win his third MVP this fall, but 2024 has been his most impressive year yet.
Dodgers fans may have to wait until 2025 to get the whole Ohtani experience, but this year’s version has also been electric.