Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has firmly shut the door Shohei Ohtani’s chances of pitching during the upcoming World Series.
Ahead of Friday’s Game 1 at Dodger Stadium, Roberts was asked if there were any possibility that his designated hitter could find himself on the mound against the New York Yankees.
‘There is no possibility, none whatsoever,’ Roberts said Thursday, before politely adding: ‘Thank you for asking.’
Ohtani’s first season after signing a $700 million deal with the Dodgers has been spent exclusively as a hitter after undergoing a second major elbow surgery in the offseason. He began throwing off a mound in August, and Roberts had even opened the possibility of him returning in the postseason, but that notion has been abandoned.
Regardless, Ohtani is not upset about being used exclusively as a DH in his World Series debut.
‘I’ve never said to them that I wanted to pitch in the postseason,’ Ohtani said through an interpreter.
Ohtani, who has started an All-Star game as a pitcher, is currently the focus of national and international media heading into the World Series.
Coming off the first 50-50 season in MLB history (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases), Ohtani appeared unruffled by the pushing and shoving and wall of cameras and mics pointed at him on Thursday. He rested his arms on the table, his fingers laced together, a slight smile on his boyish face.
‘The guy never wavers,’ said Dodgers reliever Brent Honeywell joked, wearing a T-shirt commemorating Ohtani’s historic feat. ‘He is as advertised.’
Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus managed Ohtani and the Angels in 2019. Ohtani played a shortened season that year since he was recovering from Tommy John surgery at the start and had knee surgery near the end.
‘It wouldn’t shock me if he went 60-60 and 20 wins a year from now,’ Ausmus said. ‘This guy is the greatest baseball player ever and there’s not a close second.’
Ohtani has just three homers and no stolen bases this postseason after 54 homers and 59 steals during the regular season. He’s batting .286 with 10 RBIs, hitting 6 for 9 with runners in scoring position.
‘He is like a unicorn,’ Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. ‘But we got one of our own.’
That would be slugger Aaron Judge. He and Ohtani – baseball’s top two home run hitters – traded compliments out of earshot of each other.
Told that Judge called him the best player in baseball, Ohtani replied, ‘I’m honored that that’s how he thinks of me. He’s also one of the top players in this league.’
Judge said, ‘He can attack you in so many different ways. He can hit for power, for average, it’s a tough battle.’
Yankees outfielder Juan Soto is most impressed by Ohtani’s consistency.
‘He doesn’t take off and then come down,’ he said. ‘He’s been coming up all the way, little by little and makes his goals. He works every day and is focused on what he wants.’
Ohtani’s home country of Japan has already been tuning into the playoffs in record numbers to watch him and $325 million rookie teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Ohtani will have his personal cheering section on hand.
His parents are expected to attend the World Series. He made no mention of new wife, Mamiko, who has been an elusive presence during the playoffs.
And his dog Decoy?
‘If he’s in good shape, yes he will,’ Ohtani said of the pup popularized on his cleats and bobblehead this season. Decoy even threw out a first pitch with Ohtani’s help.
After nearly 20 minutes of entertaining English-language questions, Ohtani segued into ones in Japanese.
In any language, he has the same goal.
‘The greatest moment that I’m hoping for is for us to be able to celebrate with a World Series win,’ he said.
