MLB’s 'Bizarre' Ohtani Rule Is Already Causing Problems Across The League

At the heart of the issue is Ohtani’s unique role as a two-way player.

Because he both pitches and hits, MLB has created special roster rules to accommodate players like him. One of those rules allows Ohtani to essentially not count against the Dodgers’ pitcher limit in the same way a traditional pitcher would. That means Los Angeles can carry an extra arm in the bullpen compared to most teams—a subtle but significant edge over the course of a season.

And that’s where the frustration is coming from.

From a competitive standpoint, rival teams see this as a built-in advantage. While the rule technically applies to any two-way player, the reality is simple—no one else in baseball can do what Ohtani does. So in practice, it becomes a rule that disproportionately benefits one team.

Counsell didn’t hold back when discussing it, questioning why a rule like this exists in the first place and suggesting it creates an uneven playing field.

But there’s another side to this.

The rule wasn’t created to give the Dodgers an advantage—it was designed to avoid penalizing a player for doing something unprecedented. Ohtani isn’t a traditional pitcher taking up a roster spot. He’s essentially two elite players in one. Without the rule, teams would actually be discouraged from letting a player take on both roles, which could limit one of the most unique talents the sport has ever seen.

That’s the balancing act MLB is dealing with.

Do you adjust the rules to account for a once-in-a-generation player? Or do you keep things rigid, even if it means limiting what that player can do?

Right now, the league has chosen flexibility—and the Dodgers are benefiting from it.

And that’s what’s making this situation so uncomfortable for the rest of baseball.

Because as long as Ohtani continues to dominate both on the mound and at the plate, this “bizarre” rule isn’t going away. If anything, the debate is just getting started.