Shohei Ohtani’s pitching debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers retains getting postponed. Ohtani and the group agreed to decelerate the 2024 Nationwide League MVP’s pitching development.
As Ohtani’s workload because the designated hitter will increase by way of spring coaching, the Dodgers don’t wish to threat injuring Ohtani.
“He’s one in all one at this level,” Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes mentioned on Foul Territory. “As he’s getting in and ensuring he’s constructing a very good basis as a result of we clearly can’t lose among the finest hitters within the recreation.”
Extra information: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Reveals Large Aim for Second Season With Dodgers
Gomes defined on Foul Territory how the group plans to proceed with Ohtani’s pitching development all through the season.
“We’ll set one thing up the place we are able to persistently get work in and name it as soon as every week,” Gomes mentioned. “Then in early work, attempt to work by way of some kind of stay BP situation.”
There isn’t a timeline for when the Dodgers anticipate Ohtani to take the mound. Nevertheless, Gomes highlighted that Los Angeles can solely profit from the Ohtani pitching scenario.
Ohtani has already secured a roster spot because the designated hitter. Due to this fact, the Dodgers is not going to should make any roster strikes so as to add him to the rotation.
“One of many main advantages is that if he comes again and throws two innings, that’s okay,” Gomes mentioned. “We don’t should make a roster transfer to do this. It is just additive at that time, which is clearly extremely useful.”
The Dodgers’ rotation is headline by Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. The depth of the rotation permits the Dodgers to take Ohtani’s development slowly.
Because the common season approaches, the Dodgers should journey extra, which Gomes mentioned will make Ohtani’s pitching development tougher to navigate. Regardless, the group plans to persistently work with Ohtani on the mound.
“We’ll simply map it out and work out,” Gomes mentioned. “It’d be on the street which might complicate issues however ensuring now we have some kind of constant work.”
Extra information: Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki Internet hosting Obligatory Dodgers Dinner in Japan
For now, the Dodgers have no less than 4 dependable beginning pitchers and a four-time All-Star DH heading into the 2025 season.
Picture Credit score: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Pictures
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