After months of anticipation, Shohei Ohtani finally returned to the mound. And every time he steps onto it, the buzz in the ballpark is unmistakable. The two-way phenomenon has made eight starts this season. But the Dodgers have kept him on a tight leash, limiting him to short stints rather than the full workload of a traditional starter. In total, he’s logged just 19 innings, each carefully managed to protect his arm while still letting fans catch glimpses of his magic.
Well, that magic was on full display in his latest outing. Four innings, eight strikeouts, and, because Ohtani can never settle for just one spotlight, a towering home run at the plate. Moments like that remind everyone why he’s considered one of the most unique athletes in sports history. On paper, a 2.37 ERA says he’s doing everything right, but the limited innings raise an intriguing debate. Should the Dodgers keep stretching him out toward a starter’s role, or unleash him as a high-octane closer capable of slamming the door on games?
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has heard the question — and he believes he already has the answer. “I love watching Shohei the Closer. That was great. I also like five innings of Shohei, too. So, we’ll see. I mean, I think that Shohei wants to win. He’s made that very clear. Whatever he can do to help us win a championship, he’s in for. So, right now, we need him to take down innings,” Roberts shared his honest take on shifting Ohtani’s role.
So, the Dodgers might just have the deepest starting rotation in baseball when everyone’s healthy. This year, though, it’s been a different story. Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Tony Gonsolin have all missed significant time. But the good news is they’re expected back for the stretch run and possibly the playoffs. And that’s not even counting Shohei Ohtani.
That’s where things get interesting. The bullpen is thin right now, with Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, and Blake Treinen all stuck on the 60-day IL. Hall of Famer David Ortiz has floated the idea of Ohtani taking over as the Dodgers’ closer — and honestly, he might be onto something.
For the unversed, Ohtani’s bat has cooled off lately. Notably, before June 16, he was hitting .297, but since his pitching debut, he’s slipped to .239. His on-base percentage has dropped from .393 to .361, and his slugging percentage from .642 to .546 — a clear dip across the board. So, if the rotation gets fully stocked again, Dave Roberts might look at shifting Ohtani’s role. Nothing’s set in stone, but the possibility is definitely there.
Shohei Ohtani is not new to the closer role
For the unversed, Ohtani has only stepped into the closer role once in his professional career. And it wasn’t in MLB. That lone appearance came on the biggest stage of international baseball. The 2023 World Baseball Classic final between Japan and the United States. He struck out Team USA captain Mike Trout to clinch Japan’s championship and earn the save.
So yes, it was a rare glimpse of Ohtani as a high-leverage, late-game weapon rather than a starter.
However, in MLB, Ohtani has never been used as a closer, sticking exclusively to a starting role. While the idea of moving him to the bullpen has been floated in the past, it’s been more theoretical than practical. The challenge lies in his two-way duties—serving as both a designated hitter and a late-inning reliever requires tricky in-game management.
For instance, if Ohtani’s spot in the batting order comes up just before he’s needed to pitch, it could disrupt his warm-up routine or force a lineup change. These factors have made teams hesitant to pull the trigger on such a role shift.
That said, the Dodgers might have the perfect storm for revisiting the concept. And if Roberts’ words are anything to go by, a late-season experiment with Ohtani as a fire-breathing closer isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. After all, he’s already proven in the WBC that he can handle the pressure of slamming the door in the ninth. So, if the Dodgers want to weaponize that experience, October might be the perfect time.
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