Dodgers' Dave Roberts Outlines Plan to Manage Shohei Ohtani’s Workload

As the Los Angeles Dodgers near the end of Spring Training, manager Dave Roberts offered insight into how the club plans to handle Shohei Ohtani as he continues progressing toward a full return to pitching. Roberts expressed strong confidence in Ohtani’s current trajectory, pointing to a recent outing in Arizona as a clear sign of progress. He noted the right-hander showed sharp command, focus, and intent—qualities the team hopes will carry into his next appearance.

The immediate goal, Roberts said, is modest but meaningful: Build Ohtani up to roughly 75–80 pitches and potentially complete six innings. “That would be a big step for us,” Roberts indicated, adding that Ohtani’s motivation to reach that level is evident. Still, the Dodgers are not committing to a rigid schedule.

Rather than locking Ohtani into a traditional every-five- or six-day rotation, Roberts emphasized a flexible approach that evaluates each outing individually. Factors such as pitch count, stress level, and recovery time will all play a role in determining when Ohtani takes the mound next. Managing that balance will be one of the organization’s biggest challenges early in the season.

“It’s about winning games but also being mindful of the workload,” Roberts explained. While Ohtani could reach six innings. and possibly flirt with seven early in the season, the Dodgers have no intention of pushing him deeper than necessary.