Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani may not even need to return in the regular season to play in the postseason.
Japanese reporter Masaya Kotani asked general manager Brandon Gomes whether Ohtani could return in the postseason after missing the rest of the regular season.
“Yeah, I think that’s a possibility,” Gomes said, according to the translation of Kotani’s tweet. “The most important thing is that he’s healthy and in good shape. Whether it’s during the regular season or after that, as long as he’s fully prepared and ready to go, we’re fine with it.”
Ohtani is currently sitting out with a bicep injury from pitching, which has landed him on the injured list, and is also dealing with left soreness, according to manager Dave Roberts.
What is the next step for Shohei Ohtani?
Ohtani spent some time hitting off a tee on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, his first taste of baseball action since landing on the injured list.
The Japanese star “felt good” after the session, per the Dodgers skipper.
The Dodgers will likely have him continue swinging the bat gradually, and they will monitor him every step of the way to see whether a regular-season activation is possible.
According to Roberts, Ohtani spent Wednesday resting back in Los Angeles, not engaging in baseball activities.
The Dodgers have one more game in Cincinnati left for Thursday, Sept. 17th, before they travel to Los Angeles for two home stands against the Giants and Padres.
During their time in LA, with the coaching staff available to evaluate Ohtani, they’ll have a clearer picture of his outlook before the season ends.
Compared to what was previously assumed, Ohtani’s regular-season participation matters much less if he plays in the postseason no matter what.
