Shohei Ohtani wants to pitch before the 2026 season ends, and the Dodgers have no intention of stopping him. President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman confirmed the plan is still on: Ohtani’s pitching progression continues even as he slots in as the designated hitter every night. With a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts already on the books, it’s a pretty easy case to make.
Friedman Made It Official
The confirmation came through Jack Harris and was shared by @Punchoutpitch on X on September 2. Friedman didn’t walk it back or soften it: the Dodgers are fully committed to keeping Ohtani’s development on the mound moving forward. His exact words acknowledged the unusual challenge — building a traditional pitching ramp-up for someone who is also DHing every single night. That’s not just mound time. That’s physical load, recovery, and scheduling in a way nobody in the modern game has had to figure out at this level.
The last time Ohtani played both sides was 2023 with the Angels. He arrived in Los Angeles in 2024 still recovering from Tommy John surgery — pure bat. In 2025 he returned to the mound carefully. In 2026, he has already thrown 85.2 innings and is asking for more.
Why the Dodgers Are Saying Yes
Because the numbers demand it. Across his 14 starts this season, Ohtani is 8-2 with a 0.95 WHIP, 95 strikeouts and just 26 walks. His fastball averages 97.8 mph — 93rd percentile in MLB — and hitters are batting just .180 against him. His xERA sits at 2.72, confirming this isn’t a fluke. The barrel rate he allows is in the 94th percentile for lowest in the league: hitters aren’t squaring him up, and when they do make contact, it rarely hurts.
At the plate, the story is just as good. Ohtani is slashing .280/.OPS .908 with 30 home runs and 80 RBI. His xwOBA of .402 ranks in the 99th percentile. He is simultaneously one of the best hitters and one of the best pitchers in baseball. Telling him not to pitch in September — with those numbers on the table — would be nearly impossible to justify.
The Real September Challenge
Friedman’s quote wasn’t a complaint — it was an honest description of a logistical puzzle with no real modern precedent. September means expanded rosters, higher-stakes games, and postseason positioning. Fitting an Ohtani start into that calendar requires coordinating rest days, bullpen sessions, and the physical toll of batting four or five times around each buildup. If the Dodgers pull it off — and Friedman says they’re going to try — the final stretch of the 2026 regular season could feature one of the most remarkable arguments in recent baseball history: an elite two-way player closing out the year active on both sides.
Ohtani’s 2026 Numbers — Both Sides
At the plate:
- 582 plate appearances
- 30 home runs, 80 RBI
- AVG: .280 | OPS: .908
- xwOBA: .402 (99th percentile)
- Average exit velocity: 93.4 mph (97th percentile)
- Barrel rate: 15.9% (96th percentile)
- Hard-hit rate: 51.9% (95th percentile)
- Average bat speed: 74.7 mph (80th percentile)
On the mound:
- 14 starts, 85.2 innings pitched
- ERA: 1.79 | WHIP: 0.95
- Record: 8-2
- 95 strikeouts, 26 walks (27.9% K rate, 85th percentile)
- xERA: 2.72 (94th percentile)
- Fastball: 97.8 mph avg, 2,459 rpm spin rate (93rd percentile velocity, 89th percentile spin)
- Whiff rate: 30.4% (86th percentile)
- Opponent batting average: .180
- Average exit velocity allowed: 87.4 mph
- Barrel rate allowed: 3.8% (94th percentile — barrels avoided)
- Opponent xwOBA: 94th percentile (lowest)
