Dodgers President’s Devastating Message About Shohei Ohtani: Is the Pressure Already Too Much?

Hold on to your hats, Dodgers fans, because it looks like Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound might not be all sunshine and rainbows. Oh, sure, the excitement around the Japanese superstar’s first bullpen session after Tommy John surgery was palpable — 92-94 mph fastballs? Yes, please. But if you thought Ohtani’s return would be all hype and no hiccups, think again. Dodgers president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, has just sent out a message so sobering, it may leave you questioning whether Ohtani’s two-way greatness will truly be worth the wait.

Now, before you start drafting angry comments, let’s take a step back and look at the cold, hard reality that Friedman is facing. Ohtani isn’t your average superstar, and the Dodgers certainly aren’t dealing with an average player here. We all know this, but it’s time to admit: even the best players in history have their limits.

Ohtani’s Bullpen Session: 14 Pitches and a Lot of Questions

Let’s set the stage. Shohei Ohtani, the two-way phenom, had his first bullpen session since undergoing Tommy John surgery, and of course, the entire baseball world took notice. The man threw a measly 14 pitches, but those 14 pitches were enough to send shivers down the spines of everyone in attendance. The radar gun read 92-94 mph — not bad for a guy recovering from major surgery. But let’s not get too carried away.

Friedman himself acknowledged that Ohtani’s ability to throw heat just months after elbow surgery is nothing short of remarkable. But here’s where things get complicated: Ohtani isn’t your typical player. He’s a rare breed, a unicorn in the world of sports. And as Friedman so candidly put it, “Shohei Ohtani is everything, it’s uncharted territory.”

What does this mean for the Dodgers? It means they’re walking a tightrope, balancing Ohtani’s recovery and his exceptional two-way role with the enormous pressure to bring home another championship. It means they’re essentially throwing away the traditional playbook, because Ohtani is too unique, too unpredictable, and too valuable to handle the same way any other player would be.

The High Stakes of Ohtani’s Return

Ohtani’s recovery isn’t just about getting his arm back to full strength — it’s about keeping him healthy while he fulfills his dual role as both pitcher and hitter. The Dodgers’ approach? Split his workload. That’s right: Ohtani will be pitching again, but probably not until May. In the meantime, he’s going to keep hitting — and potentially be forced to carry the weight of the entire team on his shoulders. Talk about a gamble.

Now, the question we should all be asking is: how sustainable is this? We’re talking about a player who not only has a history of elbow injuries but also had a shoulder issue during the World Series after a stolen base against the Yankees. That’s not just a bump on the road — that’s a glaring red flag.

Friedman has already been clear that Ohtani’s rehab will require constant input from Ohtani himself. “He’s so attuned to how he feels and how his body is,” Friedman remarked, acknowledging that their conversations would be “active.” But the reality is, no one has data on how to rehab a player like Ohtani — a player who’s essentially a walking anomaly. And here’s where things start to get really tricky for the Dodgers.

Is This the Price of Greatness?

Is it possible that Ohtani’s incredible talents — his ability to both pitch and hit at an elite level — could actually be a curse for the Dodgers? Friedman himself hinted at the huge toll this takes on the team when he mentioned that Ohtani is “so unique” that no one knows how to handle him. What makes him great also makes him an uncharted experiment. The Dodgers might be trying to avoid a repeat of the injury nightmares that have haunted so many other players, but in doing so, they’re creating an incredibly risky scenario where Ohtani could be pushed too hard, too fast.

This unique challenge isn’t just on Ohtani — it’s on the entire Dodgers organization. They’ve spent a ridiculous amount of money on their payroll (we’re talking $379 million — the largest in MLB history), but this gamble on Ohtani could either pay off in ways they can’t even imagine or burn them when they least expect it.

Friedman himself admitted that they “absolutely need [Ohtani’s] input” to make the right decisions about his health. So now, every pitch Ohtani throws, every at-bat he takes, will be scrutinized, analyzed, and debated by an army of coaches, doctors, and executives who all have one goal: to keep Ohtani healthy and productive for as long as possible. And it’s not just about keeping him healthy for the rest of the season — it’s about ensuring that he stays in one piece for the rest of his career. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

Why Dodgers Fans Should Be Worried

While all this sounds like a well-oiled plan, here’s the harsh truth: Dodgers fans should be seriously worried about Ohtani’s long-term health. His injury history, combined with the immense pressure to perform as both a pitcher and hitter, creates a ticking time bomb for the Dodgers. There’s no room for error here. If Ohtani isn’t handled with the utmost care, the consequences could be catastrophic for both him and the team.

Consider this: what if the Dodgers push Ohtani too hard? What if they let his competitive nature get the best of him, rushing him back onto the mound just to make an early impact? The last thing anyone wants is for Ohtani to suffer another setback — this time in the middle of a season when the Dodgers are fighting for another championship.

And let’s not forget the real possibility that Ohtani’s recovery doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. There are so many unknowns in this situation. Yes, Ohtani’s bullpen session was promising, but a few more pitches in spring training could easily bring us right back to square one. The Dodgers have no idea how to handle a player of his caliber, and they may not have the luxury of time to figure it out.

The Bottom Line: Can Ohtani Live Up to the Hype?

Ultimately, Ohtani’s return is a gamble. The Dodgers, with all their resources, may still fall victim to the unpredictable nature of the human body. No amount of advanced analytics, coaching expertise, or world-class facilities can predict exactly how Ohtani’s body will respond to the grind of pitching and hitting again.

Friedman’s message, while undoubtedly filled with admiration and excitement for Ohtani’s talent, also comes with a sobering reality: Ohtani is a one-of-a-kind player, and the pressure to make him perform at his highest level is almost unbearable. Is it worth the risk? Are the Dodgers willing to roll the dice on Ohtani’s health for the sake of another championship?

For Dodgers fans, one thing is clear: they’ve got to enjoy Ohtani while they can — but they should be prepared for the possibility that the road to another title might be a lot bumpier than they’re hoping for.

So, buckle up. The ride might be rougher than expected.