Ohtani will not have surgery this offseason, Dodgers president says

Friedman says medical staff recommends rest for knee; injuries derailed two-way play this season

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani walks back to the dugout after striking out in the seventh inning of Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday (Korean Standard Time). [AP]

Shohei Ohtani, the 32-year-old superstar who battled a string of injuries this season, is not expected to go under the knife this offseason.

Japanese sports outlet Sports Hochi reported Thursday that Los Angeles Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman ruled out surgery on Ohtani at a season-ending news conference at Dodger Stadium in California.

Asked whether Ohtani had any surgical plans, Friedman said, "There are no such plans." He added that "the medical staff is saying Shohei's knee needs rest."

Ohtani himself had left the door open after the Dodgers were eliminated from the MLB postseason on Friday, saying, "At this point, I still don't really know. I'll see how things develop going forward, including various options."

In his third season with the Dodgers, Ohtani rejoined the starting rotation from opening day for the first time in three years, resuming his two-way role. Problems with his left knee and right biceps kept him off the mound in the second half of the season, and in September he was placed on the injured list for the first time since joining the Dodgers.

As a pitcher, he went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA over 14 starts. As a hitter, he appeared in 135 games, batting .275 with 30 home runs, 81 RBIs and an OPS of .889.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani spreads his arms in celebration after hitting a three-run home run in the second inning of Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday (Korean Standard Time). [UPI]

Friedman likened managing Ohtani's physical condition to a game of whack-a-mole. "The knee would get better and then the pain would come back. Just when we thought the knee was fine, the biceps became a problem," he said. "We had to deal with multiple issues at the same time."

Since entering Major League Baseball, Ohtani has undergone surgery on his right elbow in 2018 and 2023, his left knee in 2019 and his left shoulder in 2024.

Injuries this season prevented him from completing a full two-way campaign for the first time since 2022, but he expressed determination to return as both a pitcher and hitter next year. "Of course, I intend to do everything," he said after the season ended. "I'll work hard to make it a better season."

The Dodgers won 100 games in the regular season to claim their fifth consecutive division title but were swept in four games by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, ending their bid for a third straight World Series title.

yjc@heraldcorp.com