Dave Roberts Admits Uncertainty as Dodgers Struggle to Map Out Shohei Ohtani’s Workload Plan

The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing a unique and exciting challenge in the upcoming season with the potential arrival of Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese two-way star, who has taken Major League Baseball by storm with his unparalleled ability to pitch and hit at an elite level, is set to be a coveted free agent. While the Dodgers, as one of the most successful and high-profile teams in the MLB, have long been in the conversation for Ohtani’s services, their management of his workload presents a particular set of complexities that manager Dave Roberts has admitted to grappling with.

Ohtani’s rare combination of power-hitting prowess and dominant pitching has made him a once-in-a-generation talent, and his ability to impact both sides of the game simultaneously presents challenges that most teams have never had to face. This situation has forced the Dodgers’ front office and coaching staff, including Roberts, to reimagine how they’ll approach his workload and maximize his potential without overtaxing his body, which could lead to injury or burnout.

As the Dodgers prepare to compete for Ohtani, there are several factors that need to be considered: managing Ohtani’s health, ensuring optimal performance on both sides of the game, and navigating the pressures of a postseason run. In recent interviews, Roberts has been candid about the uncertainties surrounding how best to integrate Ohtani into the team.

The Challenge of Managing a Two-Way Player

Shohei Ohtani has often been described as the best player in baseball. The 29-year-old has already earned accolades that few could have imagined when he first entered the league. He is a dominant pitcher with a fastball that can top out at 100 mph, a devastating slider, and an array of pitches that make him a nightmare for opposing hitters. As a hitter, he boasts incredible power, routinely hitting home runs while also having the ability to drive the ball to all fields. His combination of elite pitching and hitting makes him an unprecedented asset to any team.

However, these two roles come with separate, and sometimes conflicting, demands. As a starting pitcher, Ohtani’s workload can be taxing, with five-day intervals between starts allowing for recovery. But as a designated hitter, he would be expected to maintain a high level of performance every day, which would be nearly impossible to sustain if he were also pitching every five days. The potential for burnout or injury is a real concern, and it is something the Dodgers must plan for carefully if they want to maximize Ohtani’s impact.

Dave Roberts, who has managed the Dodgers since 2016, is known for his strategic thinking and player management. His ability to optimize his roster and keep players healthy over a grueling 162-game regular season and deep postseason run has been a hallmark of his tenure. Yet even Roberts, who has experience managing a team with a deep roster of talented players, admits that Ohtani presents a unique challenge.

“We’re all trying to figure it out,” Roberts said in a recent interview. “Shohei is a special talent, and how we manage him, both as a hitter and a pitcher, is something that we’re going to have to be very mindful of. We want to make sure he’s performing at his best, but we also want to protect him from overloading his body.”

Health Concerns: Balancing Ohtani’s Dual Role

One of the biggest concerns surrounding Ohtani’s workload is health. Ohtani has dealt with injuries in the past, most notably to his elbow, which required Tommy John surgery and kept him from pitching for a significant portion of the 2019 season. The idea of a player having to not only pitch but also perform daily as a hitter puts a significant amount of stress on the body. The Dodgers must balance maximizing Ohtani’s production while being cautious about his physical well-being.

Roberts has spoken about the need to carefully monitor Ohtani’s usage, especially as he comes off a career year. In 2023, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to hit 40 or more home runs and record 100 or more strikeouts as both a hitter and a pitcher. While his historic performance is thrilling, it is also a heavy burden for his body to carry season after season.

“The goal is to make sure that Shohei is healthy and performing at his best,” Roberts emphasized. “That means we can’t just put him out there every day, even if he’s physically capable. There will be times when we have to give him a break or adjust his schedule to ensure he’s at peak performance and not putting himself at risk for injury.”

Roberts and the Dodgers’ medical and training staff will likely work closely with Ohtani to determine how best to manage his recovery time and reduce the wear and tear that can come with playing such an intensive role. There could be instances when Ohtani will be asked to focus on one side of his game, either hitting or pitching, to reduce his overall workload and give his body time to recover.

The Potential Role of a “Break Glass” Scenario

In recent years, the concept of a “break glass” scenario has been floated for high-level two-way players. This involves creating specific days or stretches of games in which the player would only focus on one role or receive ample rest between outings. For Ohtani, the “break glass” scenario could look like this: when the team plays on a day following one of his starts, Ohtani would only be used as a hitter and could be given a day off from the lineup in order to keep his bat fresh but rest his legs and body. Alternatively, there may be periods during the season where the Dodgers decide to give Ohtani a full week of rest, focusing on either hitting or pitching but not both.

Dave Roberts, who has navigated similar workload concerns in the past with star players like Clayton Kershaw and Max Muncy, is no stranger to the concept of carefully managing a player’s workload to maximize their effectiveness.

“We’ve done it before with other guys where we have to be mindful of how much wear and tear they have over the course of a season,” Roberts said. “With Shohei, we’ll have to be even more strategic about it. I think it’ll be a situation where we have to have a plan in place, but at the same time, be flexible and adjust when we need to.”

The Postseason Push and Ohtani’s Value in October

As with any elite player, the ultimate goal is always the postseason. The Dodgers have consistently been one of the most successful teams in the MLB during the regular season, but their ultimate objective is to capture a World Series title. Ohtani’s role in that quest is a key piece of the puzzle, but Roberts acknowledges the potential risks involved in using him to the fullest extent during a postseason run.

When it comes to the postseason, Ohtani’s value is maximized not only in a starting pitching role but also as a bat that can impact every game. The ability to have a player in the lineup who can both take the mound and contribute in the batter’s box offers a significant advantage. But with such a pivotal role, the Dodgers have to ensure that they do not overwork Ohtani in the regular season to the point that it affects his postseason performance.

The Dodgers’ strategy will likely evolve throughout the season. There may be stretches where Ohtani is needed as a pitcher for the team’s playoff push, and other times when the Dodgers can afford to scale back his pitching duties and focus on his hitting.

“We’ll have to take it one day at a time,” Roberts said. “If we get to the point where it’s crunch time and we need him to be an all-around player in October, we have to make sure he’s rested and ready for that. It’s about finding the right balance.”

Navigating the Big Decisions: Ohtani’s Future in LA

While Ohtani’s potential arrival in Los Angeles is still a matter of speculation, the conversation around his workload has already begun to shape how the Dodgers will plan for the future. Managing his workload could very well determine the trajectory of the Dodgers’ upcoming seasons, as well as their success in the postseason. Ohtani is a generational talent, and the pressure on Roberts and the front office to manage him properly is immense.

Ohtani’s future, of course, hinges on his free-agent decision, but the Dodgers have already made clear their intention to be major players in the bidding process. Whether they secure him or not, the lessons learned in managing a player of his caliber will likely influence the way the team handles future stars.

A Delicate Balance of Potential and Caution

The excitement surrounding Shohei Ohtani’s potential move to the Dodgers is palpable. However, this excitement is tempered by the reality that managing Ohtani’s workload, given his unique role as a two-way player, is a challenge unlike anything the MLB has seen before. Dave Roberts and the Dodgers will need to carefully navigate this challenge, balancing Ohtani’s incredible talent with the long-term health and sustainability of his career.

By working closely with Ohtani, the coaching staff, and medical professionals, Roberts will undoubtedly aim to find that sweet spot where Ohtani can continue to dominate on both sides of the game without burning out. While uncertainties will persist, one thing is clear: if anyone can navigate the complexities of integrating Ohtani into a major league roster, it is Dave Roberts and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In the coming months, as the Dodgers continue their pursuit of Ohtani, the spotlight will be on their ability to find that delicate balance between unleashing Ohtani’s full potential and protecting his long-term future in the game.