Shohei Ohtani won his first World Series title and became the first player to win the NL MVP as a DH. Ohtani was unable to pitch last season since he was recovering from his surgery. Fans are eagerly awaiting the slugger to get back on the mound.
While Ohtani is slowly trying to make progress, many feel that the two-way star should avoid pitching. Although his performance at the plate has been incredibly good, his pitching might interfere with his offensive game.
Former Colorado Rockies player and current broadcaster Ryan Spilborghs thinks the Dodgers should stop Ohtani from pitching and focus solely on his historic offensive production. Spilborghs thinks that Ohtani’s value at the plate is more important than his getting on the mound.
“It’s not worth it with the offensive numbers Shohei Ohtani is putting up to have him pitch. Last year he had a 1.036 OPS. This year he’s at 1.073. Those numbers are only going to go down once he starts pitching,” Spilborghs said.
“The production level for the Dodgers, just judging by the way the offense is currently operating at the bottom of the lineup has been a big struggle,” Spilborghs continued.
Is Shohei Ohtani on the mound the best thing for the #Dodgers?@Dodgers | @spillygoat19
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) May 21, 2025
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Spilborghs was not the first person to think Ohtani should not pitch. Many believe that the slugger should continue batting and producing strong runs at the plate.
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Shohei Ohtani’s Arm Might Be The Edge For The Dodgers In October
Ohtani can be a solid weapon for the Dodgers in October when they enter the playoffs. The Boys in Blue need more pitchers who could take control. The team is dealing with injured pitchers and needs everyone to be active before the playoffs.
Ohtani has not pitched in a long time, and it could take him a while to return to form. Hence, the Dodgers will need him to start pitching before the postseason. At the same time, it’s a risk they must be willing to take.
Once Shohei Ohtani gets on the mound, his offensive performance is not guaranteed to be unaffected. Many also believe that the Dodgers might not win the World Series for the second straight time.
