Shohei Ohtani has once again shown how unusual a two-way baseball career can be, combining elite power hitting with high-level pitching. As October approaches, however, injuries to his right biceps and left knee have created uncertainty about how much he will contribute during the Dodgers’ postseason run.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are pursuing another championship, and Ohtani remains one of the central pieces of their roster. His absence from the lineup has added concern, but the latest update is more encouraging: Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Ohtani is expected to return before the regular season ends, potentially as early as Sept. 23.
The situation has produced different assessments from Dodgers reporters. Dylan Hernandez has argued that Ohtani could be effectively finished for the season, while Jack Harris has said he expects Ohtani to play in the postseason.
Ohtani officially lands on the injured list
Shohei Ohtani was placed on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 15-day injured list on Sept. 11, with the move backdated to Sept. 8. The Dodgers cited right biceps inflammation, while Ohtani has also been dealing with lingering problems involving his left knee and neck.
The Dodgers said the rest was intended to give Ohtani time to recover before the postseason. His recent offensive slump has added to the concern. Through Sept. 17, he was 6-for-49 with 21 strikeouts and no home runs or RBIs over his previous 13 appearances.
Manager Dave Roberts has continued to express optimism about Ohtani’s progress. On Sept. 17, Friedman said Ohtani could return as early as Sept. 23, giving him a chance to appear in the final five regular-season games before the postseason.
Hernandez questions Ohtani’s return
California Post Dodgers columnist Dylan Hernandez has argued that Ohtani could effectively be finished for the 2026 season despite the Dodgers leaving open the possibility of a return. On the Dodgers Post podcast, Hernandez said Ohtani was “done for the season” for all intents and purposes.
Hernandez also acknowledged a possible Kirk Gibson-style postseason moment if Ohtani eventually returns. He said that even if Ohtani comes back, the Dodgers could be hoping for a dramatic contribution rather than expecting him to immediately resemble his healthier form.
Hernandez further criticized the Dodgers’ public handling of Ohtani’s health. He argued that the organization has not always provided reliable information about the severity of Ohtani’s condition and told listeners to pay attention to what they see on the field.
Colleague fires back with bold optimism
Jack Harris, the Dodgers beat writer, pushed back hard on his colleague in real time. He believes Ohtani could easily skip the rest of the regular season and still suit up for October playoff baseball.
Harris was blunt about the postseason outlook facing his hometown team. He said there is no chance Ohtani sits out the playoffs, calling that outcome basically impossible given how much the roster depends on him.
The split between two respected insiders shows just how murky this entire situation really is right now. Nobody outside the training room seems totally certain about what version of Ohtani will show up come October baseball.
Cy Young’s dream ends in July
Ohtani entered 2026 chasing something entirely new for him, a Cy Young Award to match his hitting trophies. Through his start on July 3, he carried a sparkling 1.79 earned run average all season long.
That outing against the San Diego Padres turned out to be his final pitching appearance of the entire year. Injuries piled up steadily afterward, and the mound dream quietly disappeared before that summer even ended.
Losing the Cy Young push stings a little extra because Ohtani is 32 years old now. Insiders wonder aloud whether his prime window for dominating as both a pitcher and hitter is slowly narrowing.
Rosenthal predicts change for 2027
MLB insider Ken Rosenthal sees a real turning point coming for the franchise. He expects the Dodgers organization to rethink how they manage Ohtani’s pitching workload heading into the 2027 season after this rough stretch.
Rosenthal noted that Dave Roberts already admitted the team pushed extremely hard because Ohtani wanted that Cy Young trophy so badly. Looking back now, that aggressive approach may have carried real physical costs for him.
The insider expects a far more cautious blueprint for next season. Fewer innings, more scheduled rest days, and a greater focus on keeping Ohtani available for October rather than chasing individual pitching hardware all summer.
A historic two-way run was interrupted
Before the injuries hit hard, Ohtani looked like a historical outlier once again this season. He had spent several years proving doubters wrong about whether true two-way stardom could survive a full grinding season.
His career already includes four Most Valuable Player awards and one unanimous Rookie of the Year win, numbers that put him in truly rare company among nearly all modern baseball superstars across either major league.
Little-known fact: Shohei Ohtani joined Babe Ruth as the only AL/NL players to record 10+ wins and 10+ home runs in one season.
Two-way future faces real doubts
Some wonder if full-time two-way baseball is simply unsustainable over the long term for anyone. Buster Olney raised that exact question earlier this year, suggesting Ohtani might eventually have to choose one role.
Ohtani has repeatedly said pitching matters deeply to him on a personal level. He grew up dreaming of doing both jobs back in Japan and has resisted pressure to become a full-time hitter only.
October adds pressure to every decision
October brings its own unique pressure regardless of Ohtani’s current health status. The Dodgers built their entire roster expecting his bat and his arm, and losing either piece would significantly change their championship math this fall.
Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs now looks likely to win the National League Most Valuable Player award instead this year, a reminder of how much Ohtani’s production quietly slipped late in the long season.
Still, a fully healthy Ohtani hitting in October baseball has proven dangerous against any opponent before. The 2024 postseason showed exactly what he can do once healthy, focused, and finally free of pitching duties entirely.
TL;DR
- Ohtani was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 11 with right biceps inflammation while also dealing with a lingering left knee issue.
- Dylan Hernandez has argued that Ohtani could be effectively finished for the 2026 season, though that is his assessment rather than the Dodgers’ official position.
- Jack Harris has expressed confidence that Ohtani will play in the postseason, while the Dodgers now expect him to return before the regular season ends.
- Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 and is not expected to pitch again in 2026. He finished his 14 starts with an 8-2 record, a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts.
If you liked this story, don’t forget to follow us for more exclusive content.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
If you liked this, you might also like:
