Shohei Ohtani News: Dodgers’ Andrew Friedman, Brandon Gomes Reveal Pitching Plan
Shohei Ohtani has done it all, but fans are wondering if he’ll do more.
Now that the Los Angeles Dodgers’ superstar has opened the 50-50 club, people want to know if Ohtani will push the limits even further and take the mound in October.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Brandon Gomes, and Ohtani himself have rebuffed all speculation regarding an October pitching role for the designated hitter.
“There’s no conversation that was brought about with the pitching coach in terms of pitching in the postseason,” Ohtani told Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. “But we’re going to have a meeting back in L.A. to discuss the overall rehab progression.”
Friedman made it clear that meeting was to discuss the most favorable schedule for Ohtani’s pitching timeline next year.
“The meeting is about his rehab progression and timing for how to get him ready for next year – which has always been planned to get into,” Friedman said. “If you strip away what’s going on with the Dodgers, right now he’s thrown about five bullpens, which is the equivalent of January, late January in his progression (in a normal offseason buildup) and October lines up at some point middle to late for live BPs like pitchers do when they come to spring training.
“The question is whether to do those then (in October) or do them in November but make sure he has enough shutdown time before the start of the following year,” Friedman added. “This has been on our radar as something to talk about since spring training.”
Gomes was also asked about the likelihood of Ohtani taking the mound in an interview with MLB Network. He also shutdown the notion of the Dodgers star pitching for Los Angeles this season.
“That feels very unlikely right now,” Gomes said. “He’s just going through his throwing progression and it feels very good which is important, but at this point, I don’t see him pitching in the postseason. That’s not in the plans as of now.”
If Ohtani’s legendary game against the Miami Marlins has taught us anything, it’s this: anything can happen. Would it be fair to rule him out so soon?
Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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