Dave Roberts: Shohei Ohtani Still Adjusting To Resuming Two-Way Player Duties

Shohei Ohtani made his Los Angeles Dodgers pitching debut earlier this season and now is back to being a two-way player for the first time since 2023.

Ohtani has slowly built up his workload on the mound while continuing to serve as a designated hitter in the Dodgers lineup every game.

It has been mostly smooth sailing for Ohtani, aside from his offensive production declining a bit in July and a start against the Cincinnati Reds being cut short due to cramping.

Ohtani is still getting used to being a two-way player again and will make the necessary adjustments to ensure he can continue playing at a high level.

“Absolutely,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answered when asked if Ohtani is still adjusting to his two-way role. “And you know, as we talked about the meetings, the prep, the bullpens, going three innings, four innings, the postgame treatment with the arm, all that stuff matters.

“So yes, you’re just kind of getting re-acclimated to doing that.”

Among other changes to his routine, Ohtani is getting accustomed to having pitcher meetings along with his usual hitting sessions.

“That’s right, that’s right,” Roberts said. “And a lot of the ways that I look at things is what’s a different alternative? So you try to make it better. You try to kind of get acclimated to it.

“But every time I write that lineup and I put him at the top of the order, it’s still a pretty good option.”

Shohei Ohtani’s hitting when pitching

Ohtani initially struggled as a hitter on days that he pitched, which Roberts believes has a direct correlation to being on the mound after initially downplaying the notion.

“I do think that there’s something to it,” Roberts began. “I think that obviously, when he’s pitching, there’s an added emphasis, understandably so, on pitching.

“I don’t think there’s a better option as far as not playing him or having somebody else in there. I think that there’s a calibration that needs to happen, that’s going to happen. But I do understand that as he’s built up, certainly on days that he’s pitching or days after, it’s been a little bit different. I’m aware of that.”

The Dodgers have recently attempted to maximize Ohtani’s effectiveness by having him start before an off day. Whether a coincidence or not, the three-time MVP has found much more success at the plate this month as he is hitting .400/.538/.800 with three doubles, five home runs and seven RBI.