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Shohei Ohtani pauses pitching to focus on hitting

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency New plan
  • Shohei Ohtani will not resume pitching until 2027 and will focus exclusively on hitting for the rest of the season.
  • The Dodgers want to protect his role as a key hitter while he manages knee and biceps problems that have kept him off the mound since July 3.
  • Manager Dave Roberts said removing pitching duties should help Ohtani regain his form at the plate before the postseason.

Shohei Ohtani will not return to his two-way role until 2027. For the remainder of this season, the Japanese star will concentrate solely on hitting as he tries to reach the postseason in the best possible condition.

Most likely not.

· Shohei OhtaniOhtani answered a question about pitching again during the season.

Asked whether he might pitch again this season, Ohtani replied through interpreter Will Ireton, “Most likely not.” He added, “From now on, I’m going to focus on hitting.” Neither Ohtani nor the Dodgers want to jeopardize his effectiveness as a decisive hitter near the top of the lineup.

Ohtani has dealt with physical problems since June, including discomfort in his left knee. That issue has kept him from pitching since July 3. A right biceps problem first affected him as a hitter and later disrupted his preparations to return to the mound.

From now on, I’m going to focus on hitting.

· Shohei OhtaniHe explained his decision to stop pitching for the rest of the season.

He said he still had enough regular-season time to regain his hitting rhythm, while acknowledging that pitching could create the worst possible outcome, being unable to play at all. “I believe my overall performance should improve from here,” Ohtani said. He also explained that he had focused on ensuring that pitching did not prevent him from playing altogether.

I believe my overall performance should improve from here.

· Shohei OhtaniOhtani expressed confidence that concentrating on hitting would improve his performance.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said removing the pitching responsibility would allow Ohtani to feel freer at the plate. “The intention is to take away, so to speak, the responsibility of pitching and try to allow him to focus on being a hitter and get back on track, because over the last two weeks, he simply hasn’t been the same in the batter’s box,” Roberts said. Ohtani hopes the decision will also help his physical recovery as the Dodgers pursue what they expect to be another long postseason run and potentially a third consecutive championship.

The intention is to take away, so to speak, the responsibility of pitching and try to allow him to focus on being a hitter and get back on track, because over the last two weeks, he simply hasn’t been the same in the batter’s box.

· Dave RobertsThe Dodgers manager explained why the team supports Ohtani’s decision.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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