Andrew Friedman said on September 23, 2026, that the Los Angeles Dodgers must closely manage Shohei Ohtani's workload and communication because his two-way role has no precedent, adding that “there's no playbook for this.”
Friedman said the Dodgers have five regular-season games remaining and plan to “get him as many at bats as we can,” with Ohtani potentially playing four or five games depending on his workload and condition. Friedman noted that “The most important thing is how much better he feels” after rest, while the organization still must verify how he holds up under major-league game intensity and workload.
Friedman stated that Ohtani's physical issues affected him through “subconscious kind of adjustments where you're protecting yourself,” with gradual degradation compounding over time. He said Ohtani has consistently prioritized “whatever it takes to help the team win,” even when that made him less forthcoming about discomfort.
Friedman explained that Ohtani's responsibilities are “unprecedented for all of us,” and that he works with Dave Roberts, who manages the Los Angeles Dodgers. Friedman added that the Dodgers must remain closely connected with Ohtani and share information, saying the priority is “us staying really connected and sharing that information.” He also joked about encountering more players who underreport discomfort than “the oversharers.”
For the postseason lineup, Friedman said “it's more important to have the right nine guys,” with batting-order balance and grouping good hitters considered afterward. He said the Los Angeles Dodgers view Hosway as the designated hitter because Ohtani is back and will take those at-bats, while Hosway's outfield improvement from 2024-25 to 2026 is real and keeps him in the postseason-roster discussion. Friedman also said the Dodgers do not need anyone to “try to do more” in October, instead relying on each player being as healthy and strong as possible so their talent can emerge.