The Los Angeles Dodgers have the most unique talent in baseball history in Shohei Ohtani—a two-way superstar who can dominate at the plate and on the mound. But with Ohtani once again battling a pitching-related injury, the chorus of voices urging the team to shelve his dual role is growing louder. Is it finally time for Ohtani to become a one-way player for good?
Ohtani's bat has been nothing short of legendary. Over the past three seasons, he's posted an OPS above 1.000, and even in a slightly down year, his slash line of .289/.400/.543/.942 remains among the best in the game. But his pitching, while brilliant when healthy—a 1.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 14 starts—has been plagued by setbacks. The Dodgers recently announced they're shutting him down on the mound for the foreseeable future due to knee pain, a recurring issue for the former Tommy John surgery patient.
“The benefits just don’t seem to outweigh the cost at this time of the season,” manager Dave Roberts said, echoing a sentiment that many fans and analysts have been voicing for years.
The debate has spilled onto social media, where fans are passionately divided. One fan wrote, “Just sit him entirely right now. LA has a 12 game division lead, they can afford him the extra rest.” Another added, “Okay no trolling on this one. Just Shohei legit can’t hit and pitch for a full season. He’s done it once without getting injured (maybe twice?). They already stopped him from doing both in the same games. He should probably just DH at this point… or DH & be a closer/reliever.”
Others were more blunt: “Shohei Ohtani should not be pitching for a while…” and “It was fun while it lasted.” The sentiment is clear—many believe Ohtani's future, and the Dodgers' championship hopes, are best served by preserving his health as a hitter.
This isn't just a fan debate. The Dodgers have a history of managing star players carefully, as seen in recent years with their handling of their World Series celebration plans and other roster decisions. But Ohtani's case is unique. His value as a hitter alone is enormous—he's arguably the best in the game—and his pitching, while spectacular, comes with a high risk of injury that could derail his entire career.
The timing of this latest setback is especially frustrating for the Dodgers, who are cruising with a 12-game division lead and eyeing another deep playoff run. Some fans have even pointed to the awkward moment at the ESPYS when Mike Tyson asked about Ohtani's future, highlighting how the two-way star's health is a topic of national curiosity.
Still, the decision isn't easy. Ohtani's dual-threat ability is a marketing dream and a competitive advantage unlike any other. But as injuries pile up, the question becomes: at what cost? The Dodgers must weigh the short-term thrill of having a two-way superstar against the long-term health of their franchise player.
For now, Ohtani will focus on hitting while his knee heals. But the conversation about his future as a pitcher is far from over. If the Dodgers want to maximize his prime years and avoid another major injury, the answer might be simple: let him hit, and let someone else pitch.
