Shohei Ohtani’s Injury Outlook and the Dodgers’ Two-Way Strategy

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani missed the remainder of the 2026 season after July 3 because of left-knee soreness and right-biceps inflammation. The injuries limited him to 14 starts (8-2, 1.79 ERA, 95 strikeouts, 26 walks in 85 2/3 innings) and a slump at the plate, where he posted a .160/.284/.253 line in his final 88 plate appearances. In the postseason he was 4-for-22 before hitting a three-run homer on Oct. 15, 2026, ending a 25-game home-run drought. He finished the year hitting .275 with 30 homers and 81 RBIs in 135 games.

Japan Times

Ohtani entered his third season with the Dodgers attempting a full-time two-way role, a rarity since his 2022 campaign when he logged 166 innings pitched and 157 games at the plate. He previously underwent two Tommy John surgeries on his right elbow and a left-shoulder procedure after the 2024 World Series. The 2026 campaign marked his first full-season attempt at age 32, and the accumulated wear manifested in the mid-season injuries that forced his removal from the mound.

Japan Times

• Pitching: 8-2, 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 95 K, 26 BB, 85 2/3 IP (first 14 starts).

Andrew Friedman reveals surprising Shohei Ohtani development

• Hitting (season): .275 AVG, 30 HR, 81 RBI, 135 G.

Japan Times

• Late-season slump: .160/.284/.253 (last 88 PA).

Japan Times

• Postseason: 4-for-22 early NLCS, 3-run HR on Oct 15, 2026.

Japan Times

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said doctors prescribed rest and that surgery is “not on the table.” He expects Ohtani to return to the mound for 2027 but emphasized the need for a new workload plan to preserve his effectiveness through a full campaign. Friedman noted the situation is “unprecedented” and that the club must continue “putting our heads together” to balance pitching and hitting duties.

Dodgers announce decision on Shohei Ohtani after injuries

• “I fully expect him to pitch next year,” — Andrew Friedman

ESPN

• “I haven't been able to really come to grips with what I've learned overall this season,” — Shohei Ohtani

ESPN

The Dodgers will start the offseason with a rest program for Ohtani’s knee and biceps, followed by a conditioning regimen aimed at a two-way return in spring training 2027. Friedman indicated the club may experiment with delayed pitching starts, additional off-days, or a hybrid schedule, but no definitive plan has been set. The organization also announced that catcher Dalton Rushing and right-hander Will Klein will undergo separate elbow procedures, underscoring a broader focus on health management across the roster.

ESPN

The central challenge remains: integrating Ohtani’s rare pitching talent with his offensive contributions while avoiding a repeat of the injury-driven decline that ended the Dodgers’ three-peat bid.

Japan Times