Ohtani’s 2025 Two-Way Return Aims for ’40 Home Runs and 10 Wins

Finally, the two-way play is coming back.

In early January, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (52) revealed to the media that Shohei Ohtani (30) would make his pitching return in May. Major League Baseball analyst and sports writer Nachi Tomonari expresses high hopes, saying, “He should reach over 10 wins this year.”

“The Dodgers strengthened their starting rotation by acquiring 2023 Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (32) in the offseason. In 2025, they’ll rotate six starting pitchers. With 162 games split among six pitchers, each will start about 27 games, and considering Ohtani won’t pitch in March or April, he’ll likely make around 22 starts.

It might take some time for him to regain his feel for live action after his return, but with the Dodgers’ powerful lineup, even if his ERA slightly increases from his 3.14 in 2023 to the high 3.00s, he should still easily reach 10 wins.

As a hitter, considering the strain on his body, his stolen bases will likely decrease significantly. However, his walks have decreased compared to his time with the Angels as a two-way player, so hitting 40-50 home runs is very possible. He could even be in the running for a third consecutive home run title.”

Videos of Ohtani displaying strong pitching skills early in the year have spread on social media, and it seems his rehabilitation is progressing smoothly. On December 29, his wife, Mamiko (28), revealed she is expecting their first child. Will he be able to celebrate the birth of their child with a spectacular two-way play comeback?

From the January 24/31, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”