Shohei Ohtani says he will pitch again in 2027: How will that work out for the Dodgers?

The Los Angeles Dodgers concluded their season on Thursday, prompting a pressing question: Is there such a thing as "too much" Shohei Ohtani? Despite ending his career year dealing with injuries that sidelined him from the rotation and diminished his power output, Ohtani himself revealed he intends to continue pitching in 2027. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who have championed Ohtani's dual role whenever medically feasible, face a challenging predicament in light of his past.

Ohtani, recognized as the most prolific player in baseball history to excel at both pitching and batting, has achieved the ERA title once in his MLB career. However, his journey to a full season of dual roles has been fraught with injury-related setbacks. Starting the 2026 season in the rotation, Ohtani initially pitched once a week while leading off in every game, earning MVP honors for a brief period.

However, his knee, biceps, and neck concerns forced him to cease pitching during the All-Star break, leading to a decline in his batting form. Despite making 26 home runs, he hit just .192/.323/.308 in 32 postseason plate appearances. The Dodgers' worries are amplified by Ohtani's age 32 and seven years remaining on his contract.

While his historic dual-role performance in 2021-2022 bodes well, his injury history, including multiple elbow surgeries, casts doubt on his ability to maintain this dual role. The Dodgers must grapple with whether to maintain Ohtani's pitching workload, risk his health, or transition him to a full-time hitter.