The Great Ohtani Question: Dave Roberts Opens the Door (Just a Crack) to a 2025 Pitching Comeback

Ah, Shohei Ohtani. He's the sort of player who keeps everyone on the edge of their seat, isn't he? And for once, it seems his manager, the ever-thoughtful Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has offered a tantalizing peek into the superstar's future on the mound. It's a possibility, Roberts says, that Ohtani could be pitching again as soon as the 2025 season. A big 'could,' mind you, but a 'could' nonetheless, and honestly, that's enough to get the baseball world buzzing.

Now, let's be clear: this isn't a definitive declaration, far from it. What Roberts actually told reporters was that such a return would truly hinge on Ohtani himself, a personal decision, a want from the player to take up that two-way mantle once more. "He'd have to tell us he wants to," Roberts noted, underscoring the player's agency in this whole grand saga. And as of now? Well, that particular conversation hasn't actually happened yet, which, you could say, adds a layer of delightful anticipation to it all.

It's important to remember Ohtani’s journey here. This isn't just about a sudden whim. The man has, after all, undergone not one, but two significant elbow procedures. There was the initial Tommy John surgery back in 2018, which we all remember, and then, more recently, another elbow procedure just last September. So, the path back to the pitching rubber isn't exactly a short stroll in the park; it's a rigorous, often frustrating, rehabilitation.

Currently, of course, Ohtani is busy doing what he does best: absolutely raking at the plate for the Dodgers. He's an offensive force, a designated hitter who makes opposing pitchers shudder. But the lure of the two-way dream, the vision of him both hitting bombs and fanning batters, that's the real magic, isn't it? It's what makes him, dare I say, a generational talent, a truly unique phenomenon in the sport.

So, where does this leave us? With a tantalizing 'maybe.' Roberts' comments, subtle as they were, certainly ignite the imagination. They suggest that the door isn't closed on Ohtani returning to pitch, even relatively soon, but it's a door Ohtani himself must choose to walk through. And for us fans? Well, we'll just have to wait, watch, and honestly, dream a little of what a fully unleashed, two-way Ohtani in Dodger blue might look like come 2025. It's an exciting thought, isn't it?