No surgery, baby! Shohei Ohtani is skipping the operating table for those nagging knee and biceps issues, and the Dodgers are already pumping him up for a full pitching return in 2027. Andrew Friedman, their president of baseball ops, flat out said Wednesday that surgery isn’t even “on the table” and he expects Ohtani to pitch next year. Not just expects it, he’s “excited about him pitching.”
From Ace to Ailing: The 2026 Story You Need to Know
This is a massive update considering what Ohtani, now 32, went through in 2026. The dude was nursing a biceps injury all season long, and that, combined with a knee injury, straight up shut him down from pitching after July 3. He tried to get back on the mound in late August, throwing bullpen sessions and facing hitters in live batting practice, but it was a no-go. The Dodgers had to shut him down. You could see those injuries wreaking havoc at the plate too, especially late in the year. Ohtani spent 15 days on the injured list in September. After he came back, he went 5 for 21 with eight strikeouts in five regular-season games, then limped into the postseason where he went 5 for 26 with 10 strikeouts. His final 26 games of 2026, postseason included, saw him hit a rough .167/.298/.240 with just one measly home run. Ouch.
But here’s the kicker, the number that tells you everything: before those injuries took their toll, Ohtani was dealing! He made 14 starts, threw 85 ⅔ innings, and rocked a ridiculous 1.79 ERA with some fantastic underlying stats. His career ERA is a stellar 2.83 in 114 regular-season starts. When he’s healthy, he’s an absolute ace, so it’s zero surprise he and the Dodgers are pushing for him to get back out there.
The 2027 Plan: Full Steam Ahead on the Mound?
So, what’s the plan for Ohtani in 2027 as a pitcher? The Dodgers are eyeing a full return to two-way duty, and there’s one main path they’re looking at right now: let him pitch all year long. This is basically keeping the status quo, getting him back into the rotation as a regular and expecting him to pitch every sixth day. With the Dodgers running a full-time six-man rotation, it actually makes a ton of sense. You know Ohtani wants to be out there, and he’s got a say in this, too.
And talk about rotation depth! Even if they don’t re-sign Tarik Skubal, they are absolutely stacked for 2027. We’re talking Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki. Plus, Justin Wrobleski, Emmet Sheehan, and Gavin Stone, who’s coming off shoulder surgery but was throwing well in his minor-league rehab appearances. Wrobleski and Sheehan are “overqualified” for No. 5 or No. 6 spots, which means the Dodgers have plenty of flexibility to skip Ohtani’s starts now and then to give his body a break, or even sign another depth starter if they feel like it.
Ohtani bypassing surgery and a loaded rotation ready to back him up? 2027 is shaping up to be absolutely wild. If Ohtani brings anything close to that pre-injury 1.79 ERA, this dude is gonna be appointment viewing all season long. Get ready, baseball world, Ohtani is coming back to pitch!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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