In baseball, few returns have more craze than Shohei Ohtani‘s to the pitcher’s mound. After a second major elbow surgery, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ $700 million man is a paradox of immense talent and significant risk. As the franchise celebrates his comeback, Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez is sounding a clear and urgent warning. His concerns about preservation and workload are not just casual commentary anymore!
Ohtani finally made his sensational return following 663 days, in a game against the rival San Diego Padres. And, in a sellout Dodger Stadium crowd, a phenom was the ‘opener.’ He pitched only one inning, threw 28 pitches, and gave up one run. His control was shaky, but his velocity was stunning, as he averaged 99.1 miles per hour and touched 100.2 mph. This historic moment unfolded amidst an intensifying Dodgers-Padres rivalry, adding another layer of pressure to his comeback.
Yet, as the baseball world celebrated, Martinez voiced his significant concerns. The Hall of Famer believes the Dodgers are playing with fire by considering Ohtani as a starter.”That’s why I don’t like the fact that he might become a starter,” Martinez recently stated. “I would love to see Shohei Ohtani save 30 to 35 games for the LA Dodgers when needed… And now we need you to go and close that game.”
The legendary Pedro claimed that, Dodgers need Ohtani as a reliever more than a starter. And given his drive to become great and not settle for good, he won’t be able to achieve it if he remains a starting pitcher. He further clarified that if the team wants Ohtani to be the starter, they shall have it, but only for a year or two. Because in the long run, Pedro el Grande wants to see Ohtani hitting and pitching both.
This wasn’t the first time Pedro had offered this advice. His message has been consistent throughout Ohtani’s recovery. He believes a limited role is the only way to ensure the two-way star has a long and healthy career. “If Ohtani told you he could pitch one or two innings for now, which is exactly what I would love to see him stay for the rest of his career so that he can continue to do the things he does with the bat,” Martinez said earlier. He doubled down, adding, “in order for him to do that, he cannot be a starter.”
So why is a legendary pitcher so adamant about limiting a generational arm? The answer lies in the otherworldly production Ohtani provides with his bat alone.
Why Shohei Ohtani’s bat comes first
The downside of losing Ohtani as a pitcher is significant, but the downside of losing Ohtani the hitter is disastrous. In 2025, playing only as a DH, he is one of the leading MVP candidates. He has a 1.027 OPS with 25 homers this season alone up to now in just over 72 games. His advanced wRC+ of 179 means he’s been 79% better than a league-average hitter. This offensive dominance is the basis for his $700 million contract, and that should make any pitching plan that threatens it seem incredibly foolish
This isn’t a new fear for Martinez. His foresight is remarkable, as he voiced similar concerns back in 2018. “Because he’s so young, his youth concerns me,” Pedro warned then. “His ligaments might not be mature enough to hold for an entire season.” He understood that the workload of being an everyday power hitter was immense, and adding top-level pitching on top of that was a dangerous game.
Baseball: MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Championship Series Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani draws a walk in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Oct. 14, 2024. PUBLICATIONxINxAUTxBELxBIHxBULxCZExDENxESTxFINxFRAxGEOxGERxGRExHUNxISLxIRLxITAxLATxLTUxLUXxLIExMKDxNORxPORxPOLxROUxSVKxSUIxSRBxSLOxESPxTURxUKxUAExONLY A14AA0003584573P
This is not just common sense; history supports this deferring approach. For every pitcher who successfully comes back from a second significant elbow injury, there is another who wasn’t able to come back or fails. There are rays of hope in success stories like Nathan Eovaldi, Jameson Taillon, and Daniel Hudson (who became a closer). But the careers of promising starters like Josh Johnson, Kris Medlen, and Jarrod Parker were effectively ended by their second surgeries, serving as grim reminders of the uncertain road ahead.
And one way or another, the Dodgers’ decision must be based on their current reality. The 2025 team is in a pitching crisis, with starters like Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki all on the injured list. What they crave the most are reliable innings, not a ninth-inning specialist. The likeliest path would seem to be using Ohtani as a hybrid and starting him with short outings, then gradually stretching him out. How the Dodgers handle their unicorn will not only determine their season but Ohtani’s historical legacy.
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