“I’ve had completely different conversations with completely different individuals, and naturally that’s come up,” he instructed Japanese reporters.
Nevertheless, that might current a possible downside for the Dodgers — per baseball’s present guidelines, when Ohtani begins a recreation on the mound and is changed, he is ready to stay within the recreation because the designated hitter. But when he have been to begin the sport because the DH after which pitch in aid, the Dodgers would lose the DH as soon as Ohtani’s pitching look was finished.
A possible answer? Utilizing Ohtani as an outfielder. Ohtani hasn’t performed the outfield since he made seven appearances on the market (six in proper subject and one in left) with the Angels in 2021, the 12 months earlier than the rule change was instituted permitting beginning pitchers to stay within the recreation because the DH after being faraway from the sport on the mound. He’s additionally by no means made a aid look in his MLB profession, although he did make a memorable one within the 2023 World Baseball Traditional title recreation vs. Workforce USA.
“As a participant, if I’m instructed to go someplace, I need to be ready to take action,” he stated. “That’s on the mound and even perhaps within the outfield.”
When requested about the potential for Ohtani enjoying the outfield, supervisor Dave Roberts didn’t fully rule it out, although he was fast to say Ohtani’s lack of outfield reps.
“He’s an awesome teammate,” Roberts stated. “He desires to assist us win a championship. So, I’m all about it. I don’t know if it’s going to occur. He hasn’t performed the outfield. However I recognize the truth that he’s open to no matter we want. So, I don’t understand how that appears although. He hasn’t taken a fly ball all 12 months.”
