Shohei Ohtani: The Dodgers Expect Him to Pitch in 2027

The Shohei Ohtani situation continues to be the talk of the town.

After all, he didn't live up to expectations in the second half of the 2026 season, but we all know that was due to injuries.

That said, this is one of the challenges of baseball: staying healthy as you get older.

This is true for all players, but it's even more so for Shohei Ohtani, who carries a superhuman workload as both a pitcher and a hitter.

Everyone knows that playing both roles motivates him, but it doesn't help him stay healthy either.

And if 2026 taught us anything, it's that the Japanese player decides what he wants, and the Dodgers can't say no to him.

Seeing him play in the playoffs wasn't a good idea—he was too injured.

Is it possible that he'll come back in top form in 2027 and have a breakout season both on the mound and as the DH? It's possible, yes. He has the talent to pull it off.

But it's still a risk.

Ohtani has publicly stated that he wants to continue pitching in 2027, and now the Dodgers, through President Andrew Friedman, have said the same thing.

Andrew Friedman said surgery is “not on the table” for Shohei Ohtani.

He said it was like “whack-a-mole” between the knee and then the biceps throughout the year.

Friedman: “I fully expect him to pitch next year.”

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) October 21, 2026

Ohtani, who may not necessarily need surgery to recover from his injuries this winter, will therefore arrive at spring training as both a pitcher and a hitter.

Could the plan change along the way? Unless injuries change the situation, I don't see how that could happen.

Part of me has a hard time betting against Ohtani and his strong comeback as a pitcher. But my analytical side tells me that maximizing his bat would be better.

We've seen what he can do when he's not pitching, and we've seen that his body is aging. The Dodgers don't desperately need him as a pitcher…

He doesn't need to pitch for the Dodgers to get their money's worth, despite his $700 million contract.

But you can't stop a heart from beating: he loves to pitch. And when he's healthy, he's dominant on the mound. We'll see if this is one chance too many.

For those who want to hear us set the stage for the World Series, this is the place to be.

Enjoy the show.

Podcast by @passion_mlb with @SebasBerrouard

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— Charles-Alexis Brisebois (@Charles__Alexis) October 22, 2026

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