Dave Roberts makes a statement on the chances of Shohei Ohtani pitching in the World Series

Don't expect to see Shohei Ohtani on a hill any time soon.

One of the questions surrounding the 2024 World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers was whether or not Ohtani could make a pitching appearance. The Dodgers superstar underwent his second Tommy John surgery last September and has been taking throwing drills to get back to health. Some had fantasies of Ohtani coming out of the bullpen on the sport's biggest stage.

Dave Roberts just dumped a bucket of ice water on it. When asked if Ohtani could pitch during the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers manager said, “There's no possibility” of that happening.

That makes perfect sense. The Tommy John recovery timeline is more than a year, so Ohtani has just passed that mark. Additionally, the Dodgers have $700 million invested in him for 10 years, so they won't be taking any big risks in the first year.

Ohtani is expected to win his third MVP award and first in the National League. It will also likely be his third unanimous MVP award. During the 2024 season, he hit .310/.390/.646, hit 54 home runs, collected 130 RBIs and stole 56 bases. He became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season.

Letting Ohtani focus on hitting and giving his arm more time to set up is the smart move by the Dodgers.