{
  "id": 15101378,
  "title": "Dodgers Made Huge Mistake With Shohei Ohtani Back In August",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/dodgers-made-huge-mistake-with-shohei-ohtani-back-in-august",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-17T02:43:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dodgers-made-huge-mistake-shohei-024305984.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Los Angeles Dodgers may have made a critical error by attempting to reintegrate Shohei Ohtani back into pitching during the latter part of the season. Ohtani, a designated hitter, had been performing exceptionally well, starting 14 games and maintaining a 1.76 ERA. However, he experienced knee and biceps discomfort over the All-Star Break, leading to a brief period off the mound. Despite these issues, Ohtani remained a leading contender for the National League MVP title at the end of July.\n\nOhtani's performance took a dramatic turn in August, with his on-base percentage (OPS) dropping from a stellar .944 from the start of July to a disappointing .666 following his return to the pitching circle on August 8. The Dodgers eventually decided to place Ohtani on the injured list, acknowledging that his injuries continued to plague him. Given his lack of involvement in the rotation, as they had bolstered it with Tarik Skubal, Yamamoto, Glasnow, and Snell, the decision to bring Ohtani back onto the mound might have been detrimental.\n\nOhtani himself did not attribute his end-of-season slump to his injuries, but it was evident that something was hindering him. His offensive struggles down the stretch were likely a direct consequence of his return to pitching. Had the Dodgers allowed him to rest and recuperate, they could have potentially retained a dominant Ohtani in the October playoffs. The decision to rush him back to pitching ultimately cost the team an elite hitter and could have led to their postseason berth.",
  "summary": "The Los Angeles Dodgers may have made a mistake by trying to let Shohei Ohtani pitch again",
  "key_points": [
    "Dodgers reintegrated Shohei Ohtani back into pitching in August.",
    "Ohtani's on-base percentage dropped from .944 to .666 post-August 8.",
    "Dodgers placed Ohtani on injured list due to ongoing injuries."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Prioritizing Ohtani's return to the mound over his offensive health sacrificed a dominant hitter for the postseason and compromised the team's ability to maintain an elite lineup during the playoffs.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}