The door is not completely shut for Los Angeles Dodgers fans to see Shohei Ohtani pitch before the season ends.
Ohtani, who underwent elbow surgery last September, has been limited to hitting this season.
However, speaking with the Los Angeles Times, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not rule out letting the two-way superstar pitch despite not yet stepping on the mound in his new colors.
‘I wouldn’t say no way,’ Roberts said. ‘I’m not going to close the door 100 percent.’
With his injury, Ohtani did not start throwing off a mound until this past August. Given the short build-up, Roberts admitted that Ohtani facing hitters in a game late this season is still a long shot.
‘If I was scripting a movie or writing a book, it would be a no-brainer that he comes out of rehabilitation and throws the last pitch,’ Roberts said.
‘The problem is, in reality, he hasn’t thrown a leverage pitch in over a year. If he were to come out and it does go awry, it’s not worth potential injury,’ he added. ‘You just cannot duplicate the stress of that one inning. I just don’t think it’s worth it.’
While teasing a possible pitching return for the Japanese star, Roberts indicated that his health will be the primary factor. He also noted that Ohtani is itching to get back on the mound.
‘Shohei is on board,’ Roberts said on Sirius XM MLB Network Radio on Friday. ‘We’ll just have to see how it plays out.’
