Dodgers expect Ohtani to pitch again in 2027, no surgery

Shohei Ohtani will not need offseason surgery for the knee and biceps injuries that curtailed his pitching in 2026, Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday. Friedman said the team expects Ohtani to pitch again in 2027, while the plan for managing his two-way workload remains undecided. Friedman said Ohtani’s injuries require rest rather than surgery. He described the knee and biceps problems as recurring issues during the season, with one area improving as the other became troublesome. Ohtani’s last pitching appearance of the year was July 3, and he did not return to the mound. The Dodgers and Ohtani both want him to resume hitting and pitching, Friedman said. He expects the team and player to work out how to balance those duties during the 2027 season, including how to keep Ohtani healthy while allowing him to contribute in both roles. The Dodgers have not settled whether he can sustain a full two-way workload or what limitations, if any, might apply. Friedman also said he expects Ohtani to be fully healthy by the start of Spring Training. That is a team expectation, not a confirmation that a specific workload plan has been...