Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Eyebrows were raised all around baseball last week when Dave Roberts, who sometimes talks through his hat, raised the slight possibility of a return to the pitcher’s mound for Shohei Ohtani in the 2024 postseason.
At the time, the Dodgers’ skipper said, “Anything is possible… I hope that’s on his mind as far as motivation for his rehab. The odds of it coming to pass are very slim, but they’re not zero.”
Of course, this sent the Dodgers fans into overdrive visualizing their beloved slugger coming out of the pen as he had done in the World Baseball Classic a couple of years ago, striking out Mike Trout in the bottom of the ninth to secure the championship for his home country of Japan.
Not so fast, says Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes. In an interview with MLB Network’s Brian Kenny on Friday morning, Gomes did his best to downplay the possibility of Ohtani throwing in a big league game this season.
“That feels very unlikely right now,” he told Kenny. “I think he’s just going through his throwing progression, and he feels really good, which is important, but at this point, I don’t see him pitching in the postseason.”
When pressed by Kenny for a more definitive answer, Gomes reiterated his position. “No,” he said. “That’s not in the plans as of now.”
As of now? Though he tried, the Dodgers GM couldn’t quite bring himself to make an unequivical denial of the possibility. Which leaves us where exactly?
Who knows? As Dave Roberts said, “Anything is possible.”
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