Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman confirmed that Shohei Ohtani is expected to resume pitching next season, offering an optimistic outlook following an injury-plagued second half of the 2026 campaign.
Andrew Friedman Addresses the Offseason Outlook
Speaking to local media outlets, including The Athletic, at Dodger Stadium during his end-of-season press conference, Friedman stated plainly that the two-way star will pitch next year. Ohtani has been carefully managing his workload and recovery since undergoing his second major right elbow procedure in late 2023.
After dedicating the 2024 season strictly to rehabilitation as a designated hitter, Ohtani returned to the mound in 2025 to throw 47 innings across 14 appearances. The 2026 season brought a heavier load, with Ohtani opening the year in the starting rotation and posting a 1.79 ERA over 85 2/3 innings across his first 14 starts.
Knee and Biceps Injuries Disrupt the Second Half
Physical setbacks derailed that momentum in the latter half of the summer. A combination of knee and biceps issues forced Ohtani off the mound entirely for the remainder of the 2026 season, while also limiting his production and availability in the batting order.
Friedman characterized the physical hurdles as an unfortunate run of overlapping ailments. “It’s like ‘whack-a-mole’ with bad luck,” Friedman said during the press conference, explaining that just as one ailment—such as knee soreness—began to stabilize, a biceps issue would flare up, forcing the club to manage multiple simultaneous complications.
Despite the disruptions, Friedman dismissed any speculation regarding further surgical intervention, drawing a firm line by stating that surgery is not a topic of discussion for the pitcher and hitter.
Playoff Exit and Communication Challenges
The reduction in Ohtani’s overall effectiveness rippled through the Dodgers’ lineup, culminating in a postseason exit when Los Angeles fell to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. Even a three-run home run by Ohtani in Game 4 of the series proved insufficient to carry the club past the Brewers.
Reflecting on the unique challenges of managing a player who pitches and hits at an elite level, Friedman acknowledged that the organization and the player occasionally struggled with communication regarding his workload. He noted that because Ohtani is blazing a trail unlike any athlete before him, the team has no historical precedent to lean on.
“He’s doing things that have never been done before,” Friedman said. “For us, it’s the first time experiencing this as well. There is no blueprint to reference, no prior case study to learn what works and what doesn’t.”
The Path Forward for Two-Way Value
Ohtani voiced his own determination at the close of the season, telling reporters that he looks forward to a much improved campaign next year. Friedman echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the immense on-field value generated by a player contributing as both an elite hitter and a starting pitcher makes the logistical challenge worth solving collectively.
“How we navigate a 162-game marathon and keep him in peak condition for October is a puzzle we must solve,” Friedman said. “We all need to be deliberate. The value of the two-way dynamic is immense, and finding the most efficient way to execute it is our shared responsibility.”
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