Last season, Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Shohei Ohtani returned to pitching after sitting out all of 2024, gradually building up his workload and eventually throwing six innings late in the 2025 MLB season.
Now, with a full offseason in which Ohtani is fully healthy, the Japanese star will look to head to the mound with no restrictions for the 2026 season. Moreover, if the Dodgers standout can stay healthy and put up impressive numbers on the mound, he could be pushing for the Cy Young Award.
On December 9, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts appeared on MLB Network and laid out the plan for Ohtani pitching a full season for the reigning back-to-back World Series champions.
“Shohei has shown that he works really well with extra rest,” Roberts said. “In the World Series, it was his shortest rest day start. I do think this is the first year he’s had a chance to prepare for a season as a regular, healthy player. With seven to nine days of rest between various starts, I see no reason he can’t make 25 [or] 27 starts.”
Dodgers Issue Stance for Shohei Ohtani Ahead of WBC
Despite Ohtani being healthy, the Dodgers remain cautious with their superstar. With the 2026 World Baseball Classic on the horizon before the start of the new season, Roberts made his feelings clear about Ohtani pitching for Team Japan in the competition.
“I don’t know,” Roberts said when asked if Ohtani would pitch in the WBC (h/t Dodgers Nation). “I’m hoping he doesn’t. … I would say, the thought is he’s probably just going to hit, but I don’t know.”
The Dodgers have reason to be cautious about Ohtani’s health heading into 2026, given his history of elbow surgeries and the significant time he has missed recovering from each procedure. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if Ohtani decides to pitch for Japan, who will be looking to defend their WBC title.
Shohei Ohtani Can Still Impact Team Japan
Ohtani returned to the mound in impressive fashion, posting a 2.87 ERA across 14 starts and 47 innings. He struck out 62 batters and recorded the second-lowest WHIP of his career at 1.043.
Even if he contributes solely as a hitter for Team Japan, Ohtani’s presence will be monumental. His offensive production alone earned him the 2024 MVP, and that firepower will be critical in the tournament.
Team Japan aims for a record fourth WBC championship next year and a second consecutive title. Ohtani is confirmed on the roster, with preliminary inclusion for Roki Sasaki alongside him as they chase another crown, per MLB insider Francys Romero.
Sasaki got off to a rocky start with the Dodgers, posting a 4.72 ERA over his first eight MLB starts before landing on the injured list in early May. He spent most of the season sidelined but made a strong return toward the end of September.
Once back, the rookie pitcher quickly regained his form and became a go-to option for the Dodgers in high-pressure moments. The 24-year-old stifled a Reds rally in the decisive game of the Wild Card Series and then notched his first two MLB saves on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.
The team has confirmed Ohtani, included Sasaki in the preliminary roster, but has yet to list Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
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