“I’ve had different conversations with different people, and of course that’s come up,” he told Japanese reporters.
However, that would present a potential problem for the Dodgers — per baseball’s current rules, when Ohtani starts a game on the mound and is replaced, he is able to remain in the game as the designated hitter. But if he were to start the game as the DH and then pitch in relief, the Dodgers would lose the DH once Ohtani’s pitching appearance was done.
A potential solution? Using Ohtani as an outfielder. Ohtani hasn’t played the outfield since he made seven appearances out there (six in right field and one in left) with the Angels in 2021, the year before the rule change was instituted allowing starting pitchers to remain in the game as the DH after being removed from the game on the mound. He’s also never made a relief appearance in his MLB career, though he did make a memorable one in the 2023 World Baseball Classic title game vs. Team USA.
“As a player, if I’m told to go somewhere, I want to be prepared to do so,” he said. “That’s on the mound and perhaps even in the outfield.”
When asked about the possibility of Ohtani playing the outfield, manager Dave Roberts didn’t entirely rule it out, though he was quick to mention Ohtani’s lack of outfield reps.
“He’s a great teammate,” Roberts said. “He wants to help us win a championship. So, I’m all about it. I don’t know if it’s going to happen. He hasn’t played the outfield. But I appreciate the fact that he’s open to whatever we need. So, I don’t know how that looks though. He hasn’t taken a fly ball all year.”
