Shohei Ohtani’s path back to the mound is clearer now, and the news out of Los Angeles is exactly what Dodgers fans wanted to hear.
According to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, surgery for Ohtani is “not on the table,” and the organization is planning for him to pitch again. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported the update, quoting Friedman on how Ohtani’s year unfolded: “Andrew Friedman said surgery is 'not on the table' for Shohei Ohtani,” Ardaya reports. “Said it was 'whack a mole' between the knee, then the biceps throughout the year.”
That matters because there had been real concern that Ohtani might need an operation after dealing with bicep and knee injuries last season. He had opened the 2026 season doing what only he can do - pitching at a high level while also hitting like an All-Star - before he stopped pitching in July and eventually went on the injured list.
Now, at least on the surgery front, the Dodgers appear to have dodged the worst-case scenario.
The bigger question was whether Ohtani would still be viewed as a true two-way player moving forward. Friedman gave a pretty direct answer there too, telling reporters, including Ardaya, “I fully expect him to pitch next year.”
That’s a strong signal from the Dodgers, and one that points to Ohtani getting back on the mound in 2027 rather than being pushed even further down the road. It doesn’t answer every detail about how much he’ll pitch next season or what role the team will choose to protect him for the playoffs, but the bigger picture is now much clearer.
After a second half and playoff run interrupted by injuries, Ohtani’s outlook looks a lot better than it did before Friedman spoke. No surgery, and a return to pitching next season. For the Dodgers, that’s a major piece of good news.
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