Dodgers' Friedman says Ohtani needs no surgery, expects him to pitch in 2027
In short
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Shohei Ohtani does not need surgery for his injuries and that the club fully expects him to pitch next season. How and when Ohtani returns to the mound has not been decided, according to Korean outlets.
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Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Shohei Ohtani does not need surgery for his injuries and that the club fully expects him to pitch next season, Korean outlets reported on 22 October (Korean time). [ 1 , 3 ]
Dong-A Ilbo, citing MLB.com, said Friedman spoke at a season-review news conference at Dodger Stadium. It quoted him as saying Ohtani does not need an operation to treat his injuries. Chosun Ilbo, carrying an OSEN report, said The Athletic published an interview in which Friedman said he was confident Ohtani will take the mound next year, and that he described surgery as not under consideration at all. [ 1 , 3 ]
Chosun Ilbo quoted Friedman describing a run of overlapping problems: the knee improved while the biceps area became uncomfortable, and some pain eased for a time and then worsened. Dong-A Ilbo said Ohtani's left knee and right biceps injuries kept him from pitching in the second half and the postseason. According to Chosun Ilbo, he stopped pitching after July 4 because of knee pain and did not return to the mound. [ 1 , 3 ]
Chosun Ilbo gave Ohtani's season numbers as 14 pitching appearances, 85 2/3 innings, an 8-2 record and a 1.79 ERA, and a .275 average with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs in 139 games. Dong-A Ilbo said his hitting also fell off late in the season, with a .192 average (5 for 26), one home run and three RBIs in eight postseason games. The Dodgers were swept 4-0 by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, ending their attempt at a third straight World Series title. [ 1 , 3 ]
On planning for 2027, Dong-A Ilbo quoted Friedman as saying detailed discussions had not started but that the club would work out how to balance Ohtani's roles at the plate and on the mound. The club is considering not putting him straight into the starting rotation even if he is healthy enough to pitch. Friedman was quoted as saying the question is when to start both hitting and pitching, and that the club must be careful in every respect given the value Ohtani offers as a two-way player. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo carried headlines saying the timing of his return to the mound is undecided. [ 2 , 3 ]
Chosun Ilbo also reported criticism of how the Dodgers handled Ohtani this season, citing The Athletic: claims that injuries did not affect performance, delays in placing him on the injured list and a lack of transparent communication between club leadership and the player. Friedman replied that what Ohtani is doing is unprecedented and that there were no examples to learn from. Chosun Ilbo also quoted Ohtani as saying on 15 October, after the NLCS, that he would definitely continue as a two-way player and hoped for a better season next year. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The comments set out the Dodgers' plan to keep Ohtani as a two-way player in 2027 after an injury-hit season that ended with a sweep in the NLCS. Korean outlets note the club still has to work out how to manage his workload.
Key facts
- Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers' president of baseball operations, said surgery is not under consideration for Ohtani. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Friedman said the club fully expects Ohtani to pitch next season. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Ohtani did not pitch after July 4 because of knee pain; Dong-A Ilbo cites left knee and right biceps injuries. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The Dodgers were swept 4-0 by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Ohtani pitched 14 games in 2026 with an 8-2 record and a 1.79 ERA over 85 2/3 innings, and batted .275 with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs in 139 games. [ 1 ]
- In eight postseason games Ohtani batted .192 (5 for 26) with one home run, three RBIs and an OPS of .631. [ 3 ]
- Friedman said detailed discussions on Ohtani's 2027 use have not started. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- When and how Ohtani will return to pitching in 2027 is undecided. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo headlines say the timing is undecided, and Dong-A Ilbo quotes Friedman saying detailed discussions have not begun.
- Whether Ohtani can pitch and hit all season and still be in top condition in October is uncertain. Dong-A Ilbo reports the club acknowledged it is hard to be sure of this.
- Whether Friedman said Ohtani can handle a full two-way workload as in 2021-2022. The Chosun Ilbo text is cut off before giving Friedman's answer.
- Where Friedman made the comments. Chosun Ilbo says The Athletic published an interview; Dong-A Ilbo, citing MLB.com, says he spoke at a season-review news conference at Dodger Stadium.