The Los Angeles Dodgers have started off the 2025 MLB season with a 2-0 record thanks to their sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo series.
Shohei Ohtani returned home and gave the fans the show they were looking to see. In his first two games, Ohtani hit a home run, drove in an RBI, walked twice, and had three hits in eight at-bats.
Heading into the 2025 season, there has been a major question surrounding Ohtani and his future.
Will he ever get back on the mound as a starting pitcher? Ohtani had to undergo Tommy John surgery in 2023. It was his second Tommy John surgery, with the first coming back in 2018.
He was unable to pitch throughout the entire 2024 campaign.
One MLB analyst has made a career-defining prediction for Ohtani when it comes to him resuming pitching or not.
John Harper of SNY has weighed in with his thoughts about Ohtani’s pitching future. He has now made the bold prediction that the generational superstar will give up pitching.
“At some point it’s just going to make too much sense for Ohtani and the LA Dodgers not to do it. The Dodgers probably would prefer it right now but they will bow to their superstar’s wish to resume pitching after Tommy John surgery in 2023,” Harper wrote.
He continued on, offering more details on what he thinks will happen.
“And maybe he’ll be successful as a starter. But if he’s not immediately dominant and there’s any sense his pitching is taking a toll on his offense, the pressure will mount on him to just hit home runs and steal bases,” he wrote.
“The Dodgers, after all, have a loaded starting rotation without Ohtani but they need his impact in their lineup to win another championship.”
Throughout his career to this point, Ohtani has been a dominant pitcher.
He has made 86 starts, compiling a 38-19 record, a 3.01 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, a 3.5 K/BB ratio, and 481.2 innings pitched.
While he has been a good pitcher, his bat has made his name what it has become. He has totaled 226 career home runs to go along with 568 RBI’s and a slash line of .282/.371/.575.
