After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, Shohei Ohtani played exclusively as a hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the early part of the 2024 season. His return to pitching finally came on June 17, when he took the mound against the San Diego Padres, thrilling fans eager to see him in his two-way role. This comeback also brought new challenges for the Dodgers, who must now carefully manage Ohtani’s workload to maintain his effectiveness as both a pitcher and hitter.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes discussed the team’s approach to balancing Ohtani’s pitching and hitting duties, emphasizing a flexible strategy based on the player’s condition. He explained that decisions would be made after assessing Ohtani’s health following each outing, aiming to avoid overexertion.

“It’s very much taking it how he feels coming out of every outing, seeing where he’s at, taking a few days to assess and we can make our decision from that point,” Gomes said on MLB Now on Tuesday. “Like I said earlier, that’s the beauty of having him on the roster. It doesn’t affect anybody else. We don’t have to drop in somebody because of him. Any inning he can give us is a positive.”

Gomes also noted the desire to deploy Ohtani strategically, matching him against the opposition’s most challenging hitters while carefully building his pitching load. He stressed confidence in Ohtani’s ability as a starter and hitter as they continue to explore the best ways to keep him at peak performance.

“Especially if he’s starting the game, you want your best pitcher against their best hitters, and that’s a good matchup. Like I said, we’ll take it outing by outing and look to build it up along the way. We haven’t really talked about (relieving) at all. Shohei’s one of the best starters in the game, and one of the best hitters, so we’ll keep going on that front.”

Concerns Raised Over Potential Risks of Pitching Ohtani Regularly

Despite Ohtani’s unique value as a dual-threat player, some experts express caution about how often the Dodgers should utilize him on the mound. Former major leaguer Ryan Spilborghs voiced his concerns on MLB Network Radio about the potential toll pitching could have on Ohtani’s offensive production and health.

“Last year, Ohtani had a 1.036 OPS, this year he has a 1.073,” Spilborghs said. “Those numbers are only going to go down once he starts pitching. (In terms of) the production level for them (Dodgers), Ohtani, Betts, Freeman (and) Will Smith (are) kind of carrying (all) the load.”

Spilborghs argued that with a limited number of starts, the risk of soft tissue injuries—such as an oblique strain—could outweigh the benefits of pitching him regularly, especially considering Ohtani’s offensive output.

“If I’m really thinking about it, with Ohtani (given) 10 starts at the most, I worry any sort of soft tissue injury like an oblique (may occur). It’s not worth it, with the offensive stuff he’s putting on.”

So far in 2024, the Dodgers have often used Ohtani as an opener in his pitching appearances, a strategy that appears to be effective while limiting his workload early in games.

Balancing Act Will Shape Dodgers’ Strategy This Season

The Dodgers find themselves navigating a complex decision with Shohei Ohtani’s pitching hitting balance after his surgery. The team’s cautious, outing-by-outing approach reflects their intention to maximize his contributions while minimizing injury risk. Brandon Gomes’ remarks indicate patience and adaptability as central to managing the superstar’s role.

With key players such as Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith also carrying significant offensive responsibilities, the Dodgers’ success hinges on preserving Ohtani’s dual capabilities. How the team manages his schedule in the coming weeks will likely influence their competitiveness throughout the season.

The balance between Ohtani’s pitching workload and hitting opportunities remains a top priority, and the Dodgers will continue to monitor his condition closely to ensure the best possible outcomes moving forward.