LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "Otani will stop taking the mound until May."
LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "Otani will stop taking the mound until May."
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Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) is unlikely to take the mound until May.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said in a New Year interview with Japan's Sports Hochi released on the 5th, "Otani will work as both a pitcher and a batter in the 2025 season, but he will stop taking the mound until May," adding, "I haven't pitched in a year (due to an elbow injury), but I can't leave it to the full-time pitching schedule from March to October."
"Otani should consider the number of pitches," he said, adding, "I'm sure he wants to throw quickly, but I'll persuade him with the help of medical staff and training coaches."
The interview was conducted in a meeting format with Ohtani's former coach Hideki Kuriyama, who led the Japanese national team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Former coach Kuriyama is a leader who allowed Ohtani, who was the main player of his team when he was the head coach of the Nippon Ham Fighters in the Japanese professional baseball, to throw a double play and give absolute trust.
Former coach Kuriyama told Roberts, "In the past, it was difficult to give Ohtani a break even at Nippon Ham," adding, "As a leader, it could be difficult to give Ohtani a break."
Manager Roberts said, "Otani hurt his shoulder while trying to steal a base in the World Series (WS) with the New York Yankees last year, but even then, he said, 'I will play no matter what,'" adding, "If it was during the regular season, I would have given it a break, but I accepted it because it was WS."
"Maybe Ohtani was more enthusiastic to see Freddie Freeman playing despite an ankle injury," he added.
Ohtani, who made a new history of baseball by playing both pitchers and batters, underwent elbow surgery in September 2023 and focused on hitting in the 2024 season when he moved to the Dodgers.
He was the first MLB player in the 2024 season to hit the 50-50 base stealing mark, and will resume his pitching and hitting combined in the 2025 season. 메이저사이트
Ohtani had surgery for an injury to his left shoulder in the second game of the WS in October last year, but he is known to have no problem in pitching in the new season.
Ohtani's right shoulder condition is more important than his left shoulder due to left-handedness.
However, as Roberts said he would postpone his appearance until after May, he is expected to focus on hitters for the time being.
Therefore, it is highly likely that he will only play as a batter in the two consecutive games of the Chicago Cubs and MLB's opening Tokyo Series in Tokyo, Japan, in March.