Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound wasn’t as smooth as everyone had expected it to be. After his shaky outing against the San Diego Padres, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted at a potential change in the lineup, raising questions about the star’s role as the team’s leadoff hitter.
Dave Roberts Shares Huge Update About Shohei Ohtani’s Future
Following the Dodgers’ 6-3 win over the Padres on Monday, Roberts reportedly shared a big update. In a post on X by Dodger Blue, it was revealed, “It’s possible Shohei Ohtani doesn’t bat leadoff in future games he starts as a pitcher. Roberts checked with Ohtani about it for tonight, and he said hitting first wasn’t going to be an issue.”
Dave Roberts said it’s possible Shohei Ohtani doesn’t bat leadoff in future games he starts as a pitcher.
Roberts checked with Ohtani about it for tonight, and he said hitting first wasn’t going to be an issue.
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) June 16, 2025
The post suggests the Dodgers are reconsidering Ohtani’s dual role as leadoff hitter and pitcher on the same day. Ohtani’s 28-pitch first inning, where he allowed one run on two hits, with no walks or strikeouts, showed how physically demanding these two-way duties are.
Ohtani, back on the mound for the first time since August 2023 after Tommy John revision surgery, admitted to nerves. “Definitely a little bit more (nervous) than when I was solely a position player,” he said.
His outing was brief, limited to one inning as an opener, with a fastball peaking at 100.2 mph to Luis Arraez. Fernando Tatís Jr. and Arraez notched bloop singles, and a wild pitch set up Manny Machado’s sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Padres lead. Ohtani escaped further trouble with groundouts from Gavin Sheets and Xander Bogaerts but wasn’t satisfied.
Despite the rocky pitching performance, Ohtani was quite effective at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double, an RBI single, and a walk. His contributions helped secure the Dodgers’ victory, but batting leadoff while pitching may have stretched him thin. Ohtani’s plan is to pitch weekly, gradually increasing his innings to ease the bullpen’s load.
Nevertheless, Ohtani’s history shows that he has the caliber to handle both roles. From 2018-23 with the Angels, he posted a 3.01 ERA with 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings across 86 starts while earning AL MVP honors in 2021 and 2023. Last season, as a Dodger, he claimed the NL MVP with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.
Moving Ohtani from the leadoff spot on pitching days could preserve his energy, especially as he rebuilds arm strength post-surgery. But with the Dodgers eyeing a deep playoff run, Roberts’ lineup tweak could redefine Ohtani’s role.