Ohtani who is busy with a lot of talent! Who will save the broken LAD bullpen? You have to prepare for the outfield

Sep 18, 2025

Ohtani who is busy with a lot of talent! Who will save the broken LAD bullpen? You have to prepare for the outfield
The LA Dodgers are reportedly considering using Ohtani as a relief pitcher. ImagesYonhap News



Ohtani who is busy with a lot of talent! Who will save the broken LAD bullpen? You have to prepare for the outfield
Shohei Otani hits a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on the 18th (Korea time). AFP Yonhap News
The Los Angeles Dodgers are running a six-man rotation in the second half of the year.

It is no exaggeration to say that Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, Emmett Sian and Shohei Ohtani are the strongest rotations in existence.

However, there is no need for this many starters in the postseason. Four people is enough. Therefore, the Dodgers will operate the rotation at the end of the season in time for the postseason.




Of the six, Sieon is likely to move to the bullpen. Still, we have to turn one more person to the bullpen. Ohtani is emerging as a candidate. The Dodgers are seriously considering using Ohtani as a key bullpen pitcher in the Wild Card Series (WCS).

Ohtani who is busy with a lot of talent! Who will save the broken LAD bullpen? You have to prepare for the outfield
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani is preparing to pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium on the 17th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
In an interview with local media on the 18th (Korea time), manager Dave Roberts said, `We are talking about the possibility of using Otani in the bullpen.' `What I can say for sure is that Otani will start at intervals of 7, 8, 9, or 11 days. Considering what he did and didn't do last year, it should be seen that a very unique role is given. This is because Ohtani is a very organized, disciplined, and routine-driven player. However, the bullpen has the complete opposite character. So you may have to take risks, and if you look at the situation so far, yes."

Ohtani follows the routine he sets very strictly 'starting pitcher'. Moreover, he returned to the mound in mid-June after a long rehabilitation after receiving his second Tommy John Surgery in September 2023 and is not suitable for the bullpen, which has irregular appearances and has to wait every game.




Ohtani who is busy with a lot of talent! Who will save the broken LAD bullpen? You have to prepare for the outfield
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani starts and sprays the ball against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium on the 17th (Korea time). AFP Yonhap News
Ohtani has gradually increased his pitching innings since he returned to the pitcher on June 17. He finally started to fill five innings in mid-August. He declared that he would not throw more than five innings this season. It is followed by a limit on the number of pitches.

Nevertheless, Roberts is considering using Ohtani's bullpen because the Dodgers bullpen is at the bottom.

The representative game was a home game against the Philadelphia Phillies on the 17th. Ohtani started and completely blocked five scoreless innings. The Dodgers allowed their second pitcher Justin Roblesky to turn the tables in the sixth inning with a 4-0 lead, allowing five runs, and after tying the game 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Blake Trinen was beaten by Rafael Marshan with a three-run shot in the top of the ninth inning and lost 6-9.




This bullpen disorder has ruined the game more than once or twice.

Ohtani is in a position to take on any role if the team needs it. Whether it's a starter or a bullpen, they also want to be responsible for as long innings as possible if they're a starter.

In particular, Ohtani expressed his position in interviews with Japanese media that if he started as a designated hitter and threw as a bullpen pitcher, he could also take on an outfielder to stand as a batter again.

He "I'm talking to various officials. There was also the idea of throwing as a relief pitcher. I want to prepare whatever role I need as a player. If I take over the bullpen, I think it means that I should be able to play outfield depending on the situation after changing the pitcher. I want to prepare whatever my role is" he said.

Ohtani who is busy with a lot of talent! Who will save the broken LAD bullpen? You have to prepare for the outfield
Shohei Otani is circling the base after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on the 18th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
The 「Otani Rule」 introduced in 2022 stipulates that if a player registered as a combined pitching and hitting enters the lineup as a starting pitcher, he can change his position to a designated hitter even after being replaced by another pitcher. It was named after Ohtani because the only player who could be subject to this rule is actually Ohtani.

However, if he enters as a designated hitter and takes the mound as a relief pitcher, he cannot enter the batter's box again in his batting order if he throws a certain inning and is replaced by another pitcher. In other words, he needs to change his position to a regular fielder to remain in the lineup, and Ohtani was referring to "outfield preparation" because he has outfield experience.

However, Ohtani has never trained in outfield defense since moving to the Dodgers. Roberts is firmly opposed to Ohtani's double job as an outfielder. They say they cannot remove the burden of defense.

For this reason, Ohtani's use of the bullpen is expected to be limited to the end of the game, that is, the ninth inning. In other words, it is a position that can be used without thinking about replacing pitchers. Even if he takes the mound as a closer, it is cumbersome and tiring to hit a batter and run as a runner, then enter the bullpen and warm up pitching.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.