Shohei Ohtani said on October 16, 2026, that he will return to the starting point with his treatment and training program for the 2027 season as a Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player.
Ohtani said he was not fully satisfied with how his pitching progressed at the end of the 2026 season and did not pitch in the postseason. He described the 2026 season as his first full year attempting a two-way role.
Ohtani noted that the feasibility of surgery will be analyzed and discussed during the offseason. He also said he plans to use the Dodgers' disappointment as motivation to produce a better season as a team.
Ohtani credited the Milwaukee Brewers as a strong team that exposed aspects of his performance. He stated that he does not take the opportunity to play with his Dodgers teammates for granted because rosters and coaching staffs change.
Despite failing to achieve the team's goal, Ohtani added that he was very grateful for the time the Dodgers spent together as a team. His next step is to reassess treatment and training while determining during the offseason whether surgery is feasible.