Superstar 토뮤 Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball (MLB) is unlikely to take the mound until May, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

In a New Year's interview with Japan's Sports Hochi on January 5, Roberts revealed, "Ohtani will continue his two-way role as both a pitcher and hitter in the 2025 season, but we plan to hold him back from pitching until May. He hasn’t pitched for an entire year, and it would be unrealistic to expect him to handle a full-time pitching schedule from March to October."

Roberts emphasized the importance of managing Ohtani's workload. "We have to carefully consider his pitch count," he added. "While Ohtani himself is eager to return to pitching as soon as possible, we’ll rely on our medical and training staff to ensure he fully understands the risks and is ready to take the mound."

This interview was conducted as a conversation with Hideki Kuriyama, Ohtani’s former manager during the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), where Japan won the championship. Kuriyama, who also coached Ohtani during his time with the Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan’s NPB, gave the young star the opportunity to pursue his two-way aspirations and showed unwavering trust in his abilities.

Kuriyama shared his thoughts with Roberts, saying, "Even during his time at Nippon-Ham, it was difficult to get Ohtani to take breaks. I understand how challenging it might be for a manager to convince him to rest."

Ohtani’s Relentless Determination

Roberts reflected on Ohtani’s determination, citing an incident from the previous year. "Ohtani injured his shoulder while attempting a stolen base during the World Series against the Yankees. Despite the injury, he insisted on playing, saying, ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to stay in the game.’ If it had been the regular season, we would have rested him, but given the stakes of the World Series, we understood his resolve."

Roberts also noted that Ohtani might have been inspired by the grit of Freddie Freeman, who played through an ankle injury during the same period.

Record-Breaking 2024 Season

Ohtani underwent elbow surgery in September 2023 and joined the Dodgers for the 2024 season, where he focused solely on hitting. His performance was nothing short of historic. He became the first MLB player to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, solidifying his status as one of baseball’s all-time greats.

In 2025, Ohtani is set to resume his two-way role, despite having suffered a shoulder injury during the 2024 World Series. The left-handed slugger and right-handed pitcher has been cleared for pitching, with no lingering issues from his previous surgery. However, Roberts has made it clear that Ohtani will initially prioritize hitting before gradually reintroducing pitching into his repertoire.

Focus on Hitting for the Start of the 2025 Season

As Ohtani prepares for the upcoming season, his pitching debut is expected to be delayed until May, allowing him to ease back into the demanding two-way schedule. This plan also means Ohtani will likely participate as a hitter only during the MLB Opening Series in March, when the Dodgers face the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo.

Fans can anticipate another thrilling season from Ohtani, as he continues to rewrite baseball history with his unparalleled skills and determination.