Turns out, Shohei Ohtani didn’t need a warm-up year—he just needed a deadline. The Dodgers’ two-way marvel isn’t easing into 2025; he’s barging in with a bat that bruises and an arm that vanishes baseballs. While most teams are still debating bullpen roles, L.A. just activated a cheat code. And if anyone needed a scouting report, ex-Marlins pitcher just dropped a truth bomb wrapped in a compliment.
Well, the Dodgers are the top dog again. Yes, they may not be 79-0, but the past week put them at the top of the food chain again. The past week, the Los Angeles Dodgers brought back Shohei Ohtani to the mound, and in just 2 innings, he has proved why he might be rusty but still dangerous.
In a recent interview, former Marlins and Tigers pitcher Dontrelle Willis talked about how the new Shohei Ohtani is dangerous. He said, “He was calm today… He also got the curveball that he couldn’t get right on his first appearance. No one in the baseball world can hit that sweeper’s curve and speed… He also got his sharp splitter down, and he’s now able to throw his signature pitch.”
Shohei Ohtani’s bat hasn’t missed a beat. He’s already crushing baseballs with casual cruelty. Whether it’s launch angle or exit velocity, Ohtani checks every offensive box. The Dodgers didn’t pay for potential—they paid for production, and he’s delivering.
But now, the pitcher is waking up. One inning, 18 pitches, two strikeouts—Ohtani returned like he never left. Dontrelle Willis praised the splitter and sweeper as nearly untouchable. If the arm catches up to the bat, the league’s in trouble.
The Dodgers needed this badly. Their pitching staff is bruised, stretched, and wobbling under pressure. Clayton Kershaw is still sidelined, Walker Buehler’s return hasn’t clicked, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto just hit the IL. The bullpen has been running on fumes, asking too much from too few arms. Ohtani isn’t just a boost—he’s the lifeline. With him back on the mound, L.A. reloads instead of retreats.
So, while other teams are holding tryouts in July, the Dodgers just rearmed with a unicorn. Ohtani isn’t back to full form, but his “rusty” is still shinier than most aces. With a bat that breaks games and a splitter that breaks bats, he’s rewriting the rules again. The NL might want a do-over, but there’s no patch for this glitch. Shohei isn’t just returning—he’s reloading.
Shohei Ohtani might need a helping hand, and the Dodgers are working on getting one
The Dodgers can only ride Shohei Ohtani’s superpowers for so long before reality starts throwing cutters at their ribs. With a rotation held together by duct tape and hope, Andrew Friedman isn’t just shopping—he’s scanning for life rafts. And if St. Louis finally waves the white flag, Ryan Helsley might be the flamethrower L.A. needs to keep Ohtani from carrying both the bat and the burden.
The Dodgers are eyeing Ryan Helsley to reinforce their auditioning bullpen. He’s been one of MLB’s standout flamethrowers in recent memory. L.A.’s rotation has worn thin without reliable late‑inning arms. Acquiring Helsley represents a bold statement of championship intent.
Shohei Ohtani can only carry so much postseason weight alone. The Dodgers’ relief corps has been shaky and overworked all season. Helsley brings immediate shutdown ability with 14 saves and a 3.67 ERA in 27 games. His presence would stabilize high‑leverage innings.
Helsley’s electric fastball (98–99 mph) and 29% K‑rate translate instantly to Dodger Stadium. His 0.74 WHIP and 39% strikeout rate from 2024 suggest dominant upside. He’d slot seamlessly into a back‑end role alongside bench arms. The move could make L.A.’s bullpen postseason-ready.
If Ohtani’s cape is starting to fray, Helsley might be the needle and thread. The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t just patching holes—they’re bracing for October’s storm. With Helsley in the bullpen, L.A. could trade chaos for control. And in a league where blown saves sink dynasties, one more fireman might be the difference between fireworks and failure.
The post Dodgers Rivals Warned About Shohei Ohtani’s Two-Way Threat as Ex-MLB Star Offers Honest Assessment appeared first on EssentiallySports.
