What can’t Shohei Ohtani do?
From throwing 100 mph on the mound to hitting baseballs toward the 110 Freeway out of Dodger Stadium, the spectacle Ohtani puts on night in and night out is truly magical. And as Los Angeles heads into October with an all-hands-on-deck attitude, the two-way superstar is willing to man another position if need be.
The main concern for the Dodgers heading into the postseason is their troubled bullpen, with arms such as Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen failing to shut down the big moments they were signed to handle. But this is where Ohtani can insert himself into an even bigger role, as he can pitch in relief and play parts of the outfield.
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"I’ve been having various conversations with different people, and that topic has come up as well," Ohtani told reporters through an interpreter after the Dodgers’ loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night. "That applies to the mound, and possibly even the outfield. If I end up going as a reliever, then depending on what follows, there could be situations where I also need to play defense in the outfield. So no matter what situation arises, I want to make sure I’m prepared to handle it."
For some, the idea of using Ohtani in the outfield may seem sudden and rash, but the 31-year-old is more than familiar with the position, having played it both in Japan and in MLB.
So why would the Dodgers do this? It’s simple: If they feel they could get the most out of Ohtani in a relief role rather than as a starter, then so be it. But he would lose crucial at-bats in the process. To combat that, he would have to play a defensive position, which would eliminate the need to use a pinch-hitter for him.
The two-way player rules perplex even the most die-hard baseball fans, but if the Dodgers want to use Ohtani as a reliever, a role he hasn’t taken on since clinching the World Baseball Classic for Team Japan in 2023, he would need to play a defensive position in order to stay in the lineup for crucial October innings.
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