There’s putting your body on the line then there’s baseball’s three-time MVP, who did not completely rule out returning to the mound during the season-opening series in March in Japan.
(USA TODAY Sports)
Shohei Ohtani has already had two Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgeries on his throwing elbow.
And baseball‘s three-time unanimous MVP will not be fazed should he have a third procedure in the years to come, which could spell the end of his pitching career.
That is the burden of being a two-way player at the highest level in the game, the sacrifice he is willing to make.
“I always felt I would have Tommy John at some point. I didn’t think it’d be my first year in the majors but I was sure I’d have it at some stage,” Ohtani told reporters during an online roundtable interview on Monday (9 December).
“The second one I thought it might be after five, six years which is around now. In hindsight, I sometimes think it may have been better if I had the second surgery sooner. But you just never know regarding timing. The important thing is to have several scenarios in your head.
“Every Tommy John is different. What you can do after it depends on the amount of damage to the ligament. All things considered, ideally, I hope a third one will be at least five years from now. I don’t know if having a third surgery after 35 and then spending a year to come back will be the right decision, but it really depends on what kind of condition I’m in then. Realistically for a pitcher, twice is probably the limit.
“I had my second Tommy John last year and had my left shoulder done this time. But since I was young, I’ve always felt injuries are part and parcel. The higher the output, the more likely it is to have chronic elbow surgery. I always expected that.”
Pitcher Shohei Ohtani still aims for Opening Day
Ohtani is coming off his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which resulted in his first World Series championship – but at the expense of his left shoulder.
Ohtani tore the labrum trying to steal a base in Game 2. He did not miss a game, but was clearly not his usual self the rest of the series.
The shoulder injury came on top of the right elbow he is still rehabbing from last year’s reconstruction surgery. Ohtani said he is currently throwing around 113 kph (70 mph), trying to regain the full range of motion, but has yet to swing a bat.
The Dodgers are opening the 2025 season in Japan on 18-19 March at Tokyo Dome against the Chicago Cubs.
Manager Dave Roberts has said it is “unlikely” Ohtani will return to the mound in Japan, working back on a timeline from next October. But Ohtani on this day did not rule anything out.
“I’m not sure, to be honest. It goes without saying that I want to get back (to pitching) as soon as possible. And as a player, that is Opening Day so it has to be what I should aim for,” said Ohtani, who has not pitched since August 2023.
“At the same time, I have to be careful not to aggravate it so it’s a balance. Me personally, the goal is to return as quickly as possible and I’m sure the trainer wants to err on the side of caution. We have to find the right balance somewhere.
“I’ve been a two-way player all this time and I want to keep going as long as I can. But if the time comes when I have to choose one or the other, I need to be ready whichever way I go.”
Ohtani also made it very clear he has every intention of playing at the 2026 World Baseball Classic where Japan will try to defend their title. Not only in 2026 but every future WBC as long as he is picked.
“Of course, I want to remain as a player who will get called up. Playing there has always been a goal of mine. A lot depends on what kind of shape I’ll be in but I want to be there each and every time.”
