Shohei Ohtani’s 2026 pitching comeback may be over.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has revealed that he most likely will not pitch again this season, putting an end to what was supposed to be another historic two-way campaign.
Ohtani returned to the Dodgers lineup Monday after missing four games because of lingering issues involving his left knee, right biceps and neck. But after the Dodgers’ 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds, he made it clear that his focus has now shifted entirely toward hitting.
When asked whether he expected to pitch again this year, Ohtani’s answer was simple:
“Most likely no.”
That’s a huge development.
The Dodgers are putting pitching on pause
Ohtani hasn’t pitched since July 3, and the Dodgers had already stopped giving a timetable for his return to the mound.
Manager Dave Roberts said the team was focusing on Ohtani’s hitting, running and overall health rather than trying to rush him back into pitching.
Now Ohtani himself appears to have accepted that reality.
And honestly, it makes sense.
The Dodgers don’t want their biggest superstar pushing himself too hard and potentially turning a manageable injury situation into something much worse.
Ohtani explained that his biggest concern was avoiding a scenario where trying to pitch could prevent him from playing altogether.
But here’s the crazy part
Even though his pitching season appears to be coming to an end, Ohtani has still been having a remarkable year on the mound.
Through 14 starts, he went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA, striking out 95 batters over 85⅔ innings.
Those are numbers that make the decision even more painful.
But Ohtani is also dealing with another problem right now:
His bat has gone cold.
After going hitless against Cincinnati, Ohtani is just 2-for-26 (.077) over his last seven games, with no extra-base hits and no RBIs during that stretch.
Overall, however, he’s still batting .277 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs.
Could this actually help the Dodgers?
That’s the fascinating part.
Instead of trying to prepare for pitching while simultaneously dealing with injuries and trying to regain his swing, Ohtani can now concentrate on one job.
Hitting.
The Dodgers are heading toward the postseason, and getting a healthy and productive Ohtani at the plate could ultimately be more important than squeezing a few pitching appearances out of him.
Los Angeles has already won five straight games, including Monday’s 6-3 victory over Cincinnati.
So the Dodgers aren’t exactly falling apart without Ohtani on the mound.
But there is no question that something special is being taken away from baseball fans.
Ohtani spent years redefining what a two-way superstar could be.
And now, after finally returning to the mound this season, his pitching campaign could end before the postseason even begins.
The good news?
Ohtani isn’t saying he’s done pitching forever.
He’s treating 2026 as a learning experience and wants to use what happened this season to come back stronger next year.
For now, though, Dodgers fans may have to settle for watching Ohtani do what he does best at the plate.
The pitcher is probably done for 2026.
The hitter still has work to do.
And with the postseason approaching, the Dodgers are going to need the best version of Shohei Ohtani they can get.
So the question is no longer whether Ohtani will pitch again this season.
Can he get his bat going in time to lead the Dodgers into another championship run?
