Analysts Warn Ohtani’s Two-Way Workload Risks His Durability

Shohei Ohtani’s pursuit of two-way greatness compromised his durability during the 2026 Major League Baseball season, prompting warnings from analysts that the Los Angeles Dodgers must alter how the superstar manages his workload. After his health issues derailed his 2026 season, sports commentators and franchise observers cautioned that allowing a self-driven player to dictate his own schedule risks breaking down his body entirely.

Workload Strains the Two-Way Experiment

Following his second Tommy John surgery in 2023, Ohtani was shut down from pitching in 2024 as his arm was still recovering. The Dodgers gradually increased his pitching load in 2025 by logging 14 starts, setting the stage for a full return to two-way duties in 2026. Instead of a smooth return, the physical demands created immediate friction between his pitching and hitting performances.

When Ohtani delivered Cy Young-worthy pitching early in the season—posting a 0.75 ERA in April and a 1.08 ERA in May—his hitting numbers slumped. As knee inflammation flared every time he threw, the Dodgers shut him down from pitching. The last time he threw in a regular-season game was on July 3. Although the team initiated a throwing program to get him back on the mound, they abandoned it in late August after his knee issues worsened.

Physical Ailments Mount Across the Regular Season

Beyond the knee inflammation, biceps and neck soreness added further health concerns. The physical toll directly impacted his offensive production. Ohtani suffered a lengthy home run drought, failing to hit a single home run from August 18 until he connected for a three-run shot in NLCS Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

In September, he landed on the injured list for the first time since joining the Dodgers after tweaking his arm. Despite essentially operating without his pitching arm for the second half of the year, Ohtani finished the regular season batting .275 with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs, while his pitching ERA sat at 1.79 before the shutdown. He went 5-for-26 with the postseason home run as the Dodgers fell short of a World Series three-peat.

Analysts Warn Against Unchecked Workloads

Ohtani’s resistance to missing games is well-documented, and the Dodgers have historically granted him significant autonomy over his playing time. Doug McKain argued that this approach invites physical disaster.

Sometimes the best thing a superstar like Shohei can do is nothing. He wants to be the best hitter; he wants to be the best pitcher. His pursuit of both? It could compromise the ability to dominate either of those, McKain said, according to Dodgers Nation.

McKain added a broader caution regarding the player’s internal drive: You do not give a workaholic the ability to create his own schedule because if you do, all he’ll do is work and he’ll work himself into the ground.

Bill Plaschke offered an even sharper assessment of the structural reality facing the franchise, suggesting that the team must step in decisively as Ohtani prepares for 2027.

This past season offered unassailable proof that Shohei Ohtani can no longer serve as both a full-time hitter and full-time pitcher… They need to pull him off the pitching mound permanently… if he insists on continuing this detrimental charade, they need to seriously consider trading him, Plaschke wrote.

Ohtani has already stated his intention to return to the mound and resume his two-way role for the 2027 season, leaving the Dodgers to weigh his ambitions against the physical reality exposed by his 2026 injuries.

Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.