Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani may play again this season, according to baseball operations president Andrew Friedman.
While taking a ton of champagne and celebrating a 13th National League title in 14 years, Friedman took a question about Ohtani and his outlook.
“He’s doing well,” Friedman said. “He’s progressing well. I expect him back in the regular season.”
Ohtani was not with the team in Cincinnati to celebrate the NL West title; instead, he was in Los Angeles continuing his rehabilitation on his injured right bicep and his left knee.
According to manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani had a day off on Wednesday, though he did hit off a tee and will do some hitting from a coach’s pitches at some point this week.
“There’s no pain. He’s doing everything he needs to do,” Roberts said. “I still don’t know when [the] time to return to play is. But everything that I hear is really positive.”
Does Ohtani need to play in the regular season?
The Dodgers will play Ohtani in the postseason, regardless of whether he plays in the regular season again, general manager Brandon Gomes said, focusing on how he feels rather than his season participation.
“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,” Gomes said, per Japanese reporter Masaya Kotani.
Ohtani has mentioned in the past that he doesn’t get better from playing; rather, rest is the best medicine.
If that is the case and Ohtani can sharpen up a bit with batting practice, sitting him may ensure the Dodgers see the best version of their best player.
Ideally, fans get to see him take some swings over the next week and look better than he did before landing on the injured list.
In his last plate appearances, Ohtani struggled to rotate his body into swings and generate full extension.
He looked to wince after swings, suffering from visible pain in his right arm.
If he can swing fully and tune up his vision for the postseason, it is worth rolling him out, but the Dodgers will err on the side of caution no matter what.
