Shohei Ohtani is already one of baseball’s biggest stars, but Red Sox legend David Ortiz believes the Dodgers could take his game to another level. Ortiz recently suggested that Ohtani should play a hybrid role, dominating at the plate and then coming in late to shut down opponents on the mound.
“I would like to have him coming in, taking somebody deep a couple of times during the game and then come and shut down everybody like that, like he did in the WBC,” Ortiz said, referencing Ohtani’s electric performance in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Big Papi thinks Ohtani should be a Closer 👀 pic.twitter.com/gEh1Z7Z0q1
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 31, 2025
It’s a role that sounds dramatic, but Ohtani might just be built for it.
Ohtani Heating Up At The Plate, Building On The Mound
So far in 2025, Ohtani is delivering at the plate. The Dodgers’ designated hitter is batting .298 with 22 home runs and 37 RBIs through June 1, leading the NL in homers and runs. While fans wait for him to return to the mound, he is keeping L.A. in contention with MVP-level production.
But the buzz is growing louder around his pitching return.
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Ohtani recently threw 29 pitches in a simulated two-inning live batting session at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he’s progressing well but isn’t quite game-ready. The team plans to keep building him up in weekly bullpen sessions before making any decisions about rehab assignments or relief appearances.
Ortiz’s idea of a two-way closer might not be so far-fetched. The Dodgers are being careful, but the concept of Ohtani hitting bombs and then closing games could become a late-season reality.
With Ohtani trending up and the Dodgers already stacked, adding his arm back to the mix could change the postseason picture entirely.
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