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Shohei Ohtani, unlikely to pitch again in 2026

sportsSep 8, 202635232

Shohei Ohtani told reporters he is not expected to pitch again this season and will focus on hitting for the Los Angeles Dodgers, saying through interpreter Will Ireton, "I’m going to be focusing on hitting moving forward." Ohtani returned from a four-game absence Monday as the Dodgers' designated hitter in a 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds, going 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a walk and reporting no new discomfort in his left knee, right biceps or neck. The 2026 campaign marks the longest absence Ohtani has had since joining the Dodgers, and he called the end of his two-way plans "disappointing." Ohtani last appeared on the mound July 3 and a planned ramp to start on August 31 was scrapped days before that date. Manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani remains the team's best hitter, noting his 30 home runs and .902 OPS this season, and the Dodgers have ample starting options in Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow if a rotation spot is needed. Ohtani is expected to be a hitter for the final 19 regular season games, shifting the club's roster planning and leaving his pitching role to the existing rotation.

Molly Knight
@mollyknight.bsky.social

Shohei Ohtani tells the media he is most likely not going to pitch again this year.

939h ago
Uncomfortably Numb7

Me either. I’m shutting it down.

Mike Branom3

Congrats, PCA, on your first MVP Award.

Avraham Bronstein1

Ohtani and Judge are going to end their careers with such huge "what-ifs" about what their career stats could have been. Though their fragility is probably inextricable from the size, power, and athleticism that makes them so incredible. Greek tragedy.

JN Hall1

Hopefully he'll stop batting too Then he can live out his life as a very expensive stadium ornament

Sarah Langs
@slangsonsports.bsky.social

Pete Crow-Armstrong is the eighth player in MLB history with 40+ home runs and 35+ SB in a season at least once, joining: Juan Soto Shohei Ohtani Ronald Acuña Jr. (2) Alfonso Soriano Alex Rodriguez Barry Bonds (2) José Canseco

9017h ago
Scott Brady1

Jose Ramírez should be on this list but isn’t because MLB schedule makers hate Cleveland

Quoting this
Chris Towers is In a Pennant Race13

Juan Soto being on this list remains extremely funny. Has no more than 12 steals in any of his other seven seasons. Just decided to run like crazy for one season.

fabianardaya.bsky.social
@fabianardaya.bsky.social

Shohei Ohtani, through Will Ireton, said he is focusing on hitting for the rest of 2026.

119h ago
bobo tucci
@no-flashlight.bsky.social

The Dodgers are the Shohei Ohtani of pissing me off

9Yesterday
MLB Trade Rumors
@mlbtraderumors.bsky.social

Shohei Ohtani is DH'ing tonight after a four-day absence from the #Dodgers lineup, but he has probably thrown his last pitch of 2026 www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/09/shoh...

1011h ago
Noah Camras
@noahcamras.bsky.social

Shohei Ohtani is back in the Dodgers lineup today and leading off after a four-game absence. www.si.com/mlb/dodgers/...

15h ago
Three-Inning Save podcast
@threeinningsave.com

For the first time as a Dodger, Shohei Ohtani takes an extended break bleav.com/shows/three-...

2Yesterday
The Huck Show
@thehuckshow.bsky.social

Anytime someone uses “best player in the world” and “baseball” in the same story, it should be regarding Shohei Ohtani. Not just the “best player in the world” but also “of all time”.

112h ago
ethosfantasymlb.bsky.social
@ethosfantasymlb.bsky.social

Dodgers will start Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps, neck) on Monday at his usual lead off spot vs. CIN per @DodgerBlue1958 on X #FantasyBaseball #MLB

114h ago
Sam Lloyd
@llamsoyd.bsky.social

Los Angeles Angel Shohei Ohtani would have found a way to hit a home run in a 1-0 loss

115h ago
The Japan Times
@japantimes.co.jp

Emmet Sheehan struck out 10 in his return from the minor leagues and the Los Angeles Dodgers turned Shohei Ohtani's return to the lineup into a 6-3 victory over the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

28h ago
dodgers-cards.bsky.social
@dodgers-cards.bsky.social

Today in 2001, Shawn Green breaks the Dodger single-season HR record with his 44th homer of the year. The previous mark of 43 was shared by Duke Snider (1956) and Gary Sheffield (2000). Green will end the year with 49, a record only surpassed by Shohei Ohtani in 2024 and 2025.

217h ago
Agent ohtani
@agent-ohtani.bsky.social

Today's Ohtani-san News Shohei Ohtani fever hits the hobby! A dedicated collector reports a massive surge in the market value of their Ohtani trading cards. While the owner isn’t looking to sell, the dramatic price appreciation has fans buzzing about the future value of his memorabil... Reddit Post

18h ago
Amie Cuevas
@amiecuevas.bsky.social

Update on where Shohei Ohtani stands in September. #dodgers #playingthefieldtv

2Yesterday
J.P. Hoornstra
@jphoornstra.bsky.social

The Dodgers are 3-0 without Shohei Ohtani in their lineup. If they make it 4-0 today, will they allow him to take the DH job back from Max Muncy?

2Yesterday
3 sources
nytimes.comShohei Ohtani goes hitless in return to Dodgers’ lineup after 4-game absence (Gift Article)sports.yahoo.comShohei Ohtani returns in Dodgers' win over Reds after 4-game absence, likely done pitching this seasonocregister.comShohei Ohtani returns to lineup as Dodgers’ win streak reaches 5 games

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