Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Reveals How Shoulder Surgery Will Affect Shohei Ohtani in 2025
Shohei Ohtani underwent surgery shortly after the World Series to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Tommy John surgery restricted the 2024 National League MVP from pitching this season, which raises concern for how this operation will affect his 2025 season.
This season, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts does not expect the surgery to hinder his performance at the plate. But, Roberts thinks there will be a reduction in Ohtani’s base-stealing abilities next season.
“I don’t think it will affect the offense,” Roberts said on SportsNetLA. “I do think that there’s going to be some curtail in the stolen bases, because he’s going to be pitching.”
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Ohtani has said that he will not rush through the recovery process. Roberts explained how managing the effectiveness of his recovery will require communication throughout the organization.
“I think the thing that I don’t think any of us has an answer to John, in the sense of he’s only got so many bullets or innings coming off Tommy John, so how we ramp up in spring training when we start this process,” Roberts said. “I think we all understand that we need to have him as strong and as fresh as we get into September through October. So it’s not an exact science. There’s going to be a lot of conversation with Shohei, the training staff, the doctors.”
Fortunately, Ohtani injured his non-throwing shoulder. This is a good sign that Ohtani will get to make his Dodgers debut on the mound in 2025.
“I don’t think that the shoulder surgery that he had, because it was the left shoulder, should affect the pitching,” Roberts said. “And I do think that the hitting will be a full recovery.”
Although it is undetermined who will start in the season opener, Ohtani is expected to be fully healthy for Opening Day.
Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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I don’t know why they’d pitch him after the MVP year he finished. He’ll just get hurt.
I concur that he should not pitch. His role at DH earned him MVP why take a chance on him getting injured. Just my opinion.
I understand that, but you don’t pay $700M for a DH. That contract was based on hitting AND pitching.
I concur that he should not pitch. His role at DH earned him MVP why take a chance on him getting injured. Just my opinion.
What is the worst case scenario ….. Shohei doesn’t pitch. The Dodgers have about a dozen or so starting pitchers available that they didn’t have last season. Soto will get a contract similar to Ohtani’s and I would wager that he will not be a 50-50 player. It appears to me the Dodgers are in a nice situation.
it’s not that Dodgers don’t want Ohtani to pitch…Ohtani WANTS to pitch and I’m sure discussions with Dodgers before signing contract gave Shohei is with to pitch as well as bat once he was healthy to do both