Shohei Ohtani Not Expected to Need Surgery, Optimistic About Returning to Mound in 2027

Dodgers Confirm Shohei Ohtani Will Not Require Surgery, Expect Him to Pitch in 2027

Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman announced that two-way star Shohei Ohtani will not require surgery to address the left knee and right biceps injuries that hampered him during the 2026 season (ESPN, 2026). Instead, medical professionals have prescribed rest, and the organization fully expects Ohtani to return to his role as a two-way player for the 2027 campaign (MLB.com, 2026). While the team remains committed to his dual-role status, Friedman acknowledged that the specific management of his workload remains an open question, as the club navigates the unprecedented challenge of balancing his pitching and hitting duties to ensure he is at peak performance for the postseason (CBS Sports, 2026). Ohtani, who finished the 2026 regular season with an 8-2 record and a 1.79 ERA, had previously expressed his intent to return to the mound following the team's playoff exit (MLB.com, 2026).

Los Angeles Dodgers · Milwaukee Brewers · Shohei Ohtani · Tarik Skubal · Alex Vesia · Evan Phillips · Dalton Rushing · Will Klein

Original Reporting