Shohei Ohtani said he plans to pitch for the Dodgers in 2027 but has not decided whether offseason surgery is necessary, speaking to reporters through an interpreter after Thursday’s NLCS Game 4 loss.
Ohtani spoke after the Brewers swept the two-time defending World Series champions in four games. Knee and biceps injuries sidelined him from pitching after July 3, but he remained uncertain about whether repairs will be needed in the offseason.
What Ohtani Said About Surgery And Next Season
Ohtani said surgery is possible but uncertain. “Hard to tell at this point. It’s something that we’ll analyze, discuss over the offseason and see if that’s a viable thing to do,” he said through an interpreter.
On pitching next season: “Yes, definitely. Looking forward to having a better season next year.”Hard to tell at this point. It’s something that we’ll analyze, discuss over the offseason and see if that’s a viable thing to do,” he said, according to Yahoo Sports.
He was more direct when asked if he plans to pitch in 2027. “Yes, definitely. Looking forward to having a better season next year,” Ohtani said.
What It Means For The Dodgers’ Rotation Plans
Ohtani did not pitch after July 3 and the Dodgers shut him down to let him focus solely on hitting. Before the shutdown, he posted an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85⅔ innings. He was placed on the injured list in mid-September with right biceps inflammation and returned for the final week of the regular season but did not appear fully healthy.
His injuries also included left knee problems.s 2026 pitching season ended after July 3, when the Dodgers shut him down from the mound so he could focus on hitting, according to Sporting News. Before that stoppage, he posted an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85⅔ innings.
Los Angeles placed him on the injured list in mid-September because of right biceps inflammation. He returned for the final week of the regular season but did not appear fully healthy, Sporting News reported. His 2026 injury issues also included left knee problems.
Whether surgery is needed for the biceps, knee or both remains unresolved, with no decision timeline reported.
Context: A Lockout Looms Over The Offseason
Any decision will unfold during an unusual offseason: the collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, triggering a lockout when teams cannot communicate with players. That timeline could affect when surgery takes place, though no internal deadline has been reported.s medical path will unfold against an unusual offseason backdrop. CBS Sports reported that the Dodgers and the rest of MLB face a lockout once the collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, a period during which teams are barred from communicating with players.
That window adds pressure to finalize any surgical plan before communication channels close, though no specific internal deadline has been reported by the team or Ohtani’s camp.
What’s Next
Ohtani and the Dodgers will discuss the medical path over the coming weeks. No surgery date or recovery timeline has been announced.
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