Dave Roberts Doesn’t Expect Shohei Ohtani to Miss a Dodgers Game Anytime Soon

Shohei Ohtani is six months out from his second Tommy John surgery, and two weeks into his throwing program. However, his progress within the throwing program doesn’t affect his playing time as a designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Manager Dave Roberts is planning on Ohtani pitching in 2025 and doesn’t see anything impacting his ability to hit this season. In fact, without the added stress of being a two-way player, Roberts is expecting to write DH next to Ohtani’s name every game this season.

“I think that, where we’re at, the two games that we had in Korea, lends itself to more off days once we started here stateside,” Roberts said. “If I start to see or hear or talk to Shohei and he says he might need a day off, we’ll have that conversation. Right now, with the off days I don’t see it coming in a while.”

The Dodgers have four days off in the first three weeks in April and don’t play for seven consecutive days until a road trip to Washington, Toronto, and Arizona at the end of this month.

Roberts also doesn’t plan on playing Ohtani in the field until maybe September. The skipper briefly addressed the potential of Ohtani playing outfield if he has progressed enough with his throwing program. As of now, that’s off the table.

“This year, I just don’t see how he’s not going to be a DH,” he said. “He’s building up with his throwing program. If there’s a conversation in September to run him out there to spell somebody else, a day of defense, we can have that conversation. But we’re not even close to that.

“Status quo is fine. If it changes in September, then we’ll have a discussion.”

Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

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