Should Shohei Ohtani "Never Pitch Again"? U.S. Media Pundit's Call to Abandon Two-Way Role Sparks Controversy

Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese two-way star for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was once widely expected to contend for both the National League MVP and Cy Young Award this season. However, due to persistent discomfort in his left knee and an insufficient number of innings pitched, his dream of winning both honors has been dashed early. Despite recently completing a bullpen session without issues, one commentator has made a shocking statement, insisting that Ohtani should "never pitch again."

Rob Parker, a commentator for MLB Network, expressed on the show "MLB Now" that the Dodgers simply do not need Ohtani on the mound. "Not only should they shut him down for the rest of this season, but I think he should never pitch again! Enough is enough—put away the glove!" Parker argued that Ohtani focusing solely on designated hitter duties would benefit the Dodgers even more. "I want to see him in the lineup every day. I just want to watch him hit; I don't want to see him pitch anymore."

He further pointed out that the Dodgers have already won two consecutive World Series titles, so Ohtani does not need to risk injury by taking the mound. "The Dodgers have won back-to-back championships. Ohtani's career World Series record is 0 wins and 1 loss, with a 7.56 ERA. They simply don't need him to pitch. This is just something Ohtani wants to do for himself; it has nothing to do with whether the Dodgers can win a title."

These remarks immediately sparked strong backlash from a large number of fans. Although there are genuine concerns about Ohtani having undergone two elbow surgeries and now dealing with a left knee injury, making it uncertain whether he can continue as a two-way player in the long term, the vast majority of fans still hope to see the two-way star take the mound again.

In fact, Ohtani has once again demonstrated remarkable ability both at the plate and on the mound this season. Offensively, he has posted a .283 batting average, a .392 on-base percentage, a .525 slugging percentage, and a .917 OPS, along with 22 home runs and 60 RBIs. On the pitching side, over 85.2 innings, he has recorded a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts, remaining one of the most dominant pitchers in the league.

Despite Parker's call for Ohtani to permanently give up pitching, the Dodgers' current plans have not changed. The team still expects the two-way star to continue competing in the major leagues as both a pitcher and a hitter.