After undergoing three surgeries, Shohei Ohtani’s susceptibility to injuries raises the question of transitioning the right-handed starter into a reliever.
Moving Ohtani to the bullpen would lighten his workload on the mound, hopefully preserving his arm for longer periods of time.
But as a two-way player, Ohtani will never be a regular closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“How are you going to do that? What if he’s batting in the top of the ninth and then he’s supposed to come pitch in the bottom of the ninth? When’s he going to warm up?” Los Angeles Angels insider Jeff Fletcher asked Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain.
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It is impossible to warm up to close a game while on deck to bat.
Therefore, the Dodgers would not be able to manage Ohtani’s batting and pitching during the games.
“The workload is erratic when you’re a reliever,” Fletcher said. “You’re on the road in an extra inning game, and the closer warms up every inning.”
“All of a sudden you take the lead, and you want the close, how is that going to work if he’s batting? What’s going to happen if the Dodgers are losing by two runs in the top of the ninth and Ohtani hits a three run homer in the top of the ninth?” Fletcher added.
Although making Ohtani a regular reliever is unrealistic, the 2024 National League Most Valuable Player has closed a game – a championship game.
Ohtani closed out the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game to help Japan win the title.
He struck out former Angels teammate Mike Trout in the ninth inning to secure the 3-2 victory.
Fletcher said this was a unique circumstance that is unlikely to happen often.
“At the WBC, he actually got kind of lucky, because there was a replay review,” Fletcher said. “He didn’t have to bat, and it was a replay review, which stretched that inning another three or four minutes, and gave him some more time to warm up down there.”
“All the things kind of lined up perfectly for him to do that. But that’s not going to happen all the time,” Fletcher added.
Even though the Dodgers could benefit from getting Ohtani back on the mound sooner, his service at the plate is irreplaceable.
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Photo Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images
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