It seems unlikely that Shohei Ohtani will be seen patrolling the outfield for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the current season.
Or, at least, it’s not anticipated.
Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts dismissed the notion following the team’s 9-6 defeat against the Philadelphia Phillies, shortly after Ohtani mentioned to the press his openness to playing in the outfield when not pitching or serving as the team’s designated hitter.
“He hasn’t been in the outfield [for us], but I value his willingness to contribute wherever needed,” Roberts stated, according to MLB.com. “However, I’m unsure how that would materialize. He hasn’t practiced catching fly balls this entire year.”
This idea isn’t entirely unfounded. Ohtani himself brought it up this week, noting it has “surfaced” internally recently as the team gears up for the postseason.
“As a player, if instructed to go somewhere, I aim to be prepared,” he explained. “That applies both on the mound and potentially in the outfield.”
Ohtani’s experience in the outfield, as Roberts pointed out, is quite limited. He hasn’t played there since his days with the Los Angeles Angels, and even then, he only made six appearances in Anaheim.
While Ohtani has definitively proven his status as a top-tier baseball player, inserting him into the outfield during the playoffs with minimal preparation might not be the wisest course for the Dodgers — especially given Ohtani’s recent return to the mound after multiple surgeries that restricted him to being only the team’s designated hitter throughout his initial season with the franchise.
Ohtani pitched five scoreless innings on Tuesday, and he achieved his 50th home run of the season — a feat he has now accomplished in consecutive seasons. He then added his 51st home run on Wednesday night against the Phillies, giving the Dodgers a 4-0 lead late in the game.
Only Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber have tallied more home runs across Major League Baseball this season. Ohtani entered Wednesday’s game with a .282 batting average and 94 RBIs. He boasts a 3.29 ERA in 13 starts.
Following their 5-0 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday, the Dodgers improved their season record to 85-67. They are currently maintaining a slim two-game advantage over the San Diego Padres in the NL West.
Regarding Ohtani’s eagerness to contribute wherever necessary to help the Dodgers secure another World Series title this fall, Roberts is fully supportive. However, actually seeing Ohtani in the outfield might not come to fruition.
“I’m not sure if it’s a mere fantasy,” Roberts commented on Wednesday regarding Ohtani playing the outfield, according to ESPN, “but it’s certainly commendable on Shohei’s part.”
