Although Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is having a monster year, he won’t make an appearance on the mound in 2024, according to Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the news.
“Shohei Ohtani may be recovering quite nicely from his Tommy John surgery, but forget the notion of the Dodgers bringing him to the pitcher’s mound this season. Simply, Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes said, it’s not happening.”
As much as Dodgers fans want to see Ohtani throw for Los Angeles, it’s not possible this year. The Dodgers star is recovering from a major elbow injury which almost always leads to a pitcher undergoing Tommy John surgery. But Ohtani has been very private about what type of procedure he had last September.
In 2023, Ohtani injured his elbow ligament while he was still playing for the cross-town Angels in Anaheim. He left the mound after just 26 pitches and Halos general manager Perry Minasian confirmed Ohtani’s injury later that night.
The two-time Most Valuable Player has suffered other serious arm injuries. In 2018, he had his first Tommy John surgery after a standout rookie season in MLB. He was unable to pitch in 2019 and for the majority of 2020. He didn’t pitch a full season until the 2021 season.
Nevertheless, the Dodgers slugger can still hit despite his injury. And that’s what his role has been this year as the designated hitter for Los Angeles.
Even though witnessing Ohtani on the mound in his first season with the Dodgers would’ve been amazing, the Los Angeles star has bigger fish to fry in 2024. The Dodgers’ lead in the National League West is dwindling, and although Los Angeles could use another arm, what the club needs most is Ohtani’s bat.
He’ll have to pick up the pace since he is currently in a slump. The Dodgers’ leadoff hitter has hit .147 with a .653 OPS since July 8. He’s also posted 19 strikeouts and eight walks through the last 18 games.
Ohtani hit his 38th homer on Saturday night in St. Louis. Although Los Angeles lost to the Cardinals 5-2, fans can be hopeful that his homer pushes the Dodgers slugger in an upward trajectory.
The Dodgers will need their leadoff man to get back into form, sooner rather than later, given the circumstances. The Los Angeles bats are notorious for slowing down when needed most, but the Dodgers have a chance to beat that narrative in 2024.
Although the Los Angeles star continues to make history in a Dodgers uniform, his performance down the stretch is what matters most. It’s time for Ohtani’s $700 million bat to pay up in clutch time.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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