Dodgers not counting on Ohtani to pitch at start of the season following shoulder surgery

  Dodgers aren't counting on Shohei Ohtani to pitch at start of next season and will wait to see how his rehabilitation progresses following shoulder surgery on his non-throwing arm.

Ohtani h a procedure Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury sustained while sliding during a stolen-base attempt in Game 2 of World Series on Oct. 26. two-way star did not pitch this year while recovering from elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023 .

“We’re going to take it piece by piece and get through this and n take it in one-, two-week chunks and make sure that we’re in a really good place on each of those benchmarks and n go from re and not try to say, ‘Hey, we need to be rey by this day,"’ general manager Brandon Gomes said Wednesday. "We’re going to let rehab process play out.”

After signing a record $700 million, 10-year contract, 30-year-old Ohtani hit .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, becoming first player with at least 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season.

“I think it's safe that he will not steal 50 bases next year,” Gomes said. “I have a hunch. I don’t want to count it out because I don’t ever bet against Shohei.”

Gomes said left-hander Clayton Kershaw h surgery Wednesday but he could not go into details because three-time Cy Young Award winner was a free agent.

He also said Mookie Betts is likely heed back to infield next year and World Series champions would like to reach a new contract with manager Dave Roberts, whose current deal runs through next season.

Ohtani was operated on by he team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

“ rehab stages have different lower intensity exercises and may just be movement,” Gomes said. “Our trainers and performance coaches and doctors are all in lockstep on that and we’ll be with him along way.”

Ohtani has stopped his throwing program.

“He probably would have stopped throwing anyway with offseason but he needs to recover from this and n get that back up,” Gomes said.

Los Angeles expects to have right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Tyler Glasnow rey for opening day. Yamamoto was sidelined by right triceps tightness between June 15 and Sept. 10, Glasnow didn't pitch after Aug. 11 because of right elbow tendinitis, Gonsolin spent all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery and May didn't pitch this year following elbow and esophagus operations.

Betts started season at shortstop, broke his left hand on June 16 when hit by a pitch and moved to right field when he returned on Aug. 12. His shift back to infield is a product of trying to protect his body and desire of 32-year-old, an eight-time All-Star.

“That's not set in stone but I think just toll of outfield and I think it’s really hard on guys bouncing back and forth,” Gomes said. “We’ll have those more in-depth conversations soon and get some clarity on it.”

Roberts started as Dodgers manager for 2016 season with a three-year contract that included a team option, agreed in December 2018 to a four-year contract, and n in March 2022 to his latest deal, which runs through 2025. He has an 851-506 record, leing Dodgers to a pair of World Series titles and four NL pennants.

“We want Dave here as long as we can see out and we’ve h success with doing extensions in past with him,” Gomes said. “We expect at some point this offseason talking through that.”

Kershaw said Friday he was going to have operations on his left big toe and knee. 36-year-old didn't make his season debut until July 25 following shoulder surgery and was limited to seven starts, going 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA. He didn't pitch after Aug. 30 because of toe injury.

Kershaw on Monday declined a $10 million player option that would have allowed him to earn $15 million in performance bonuses.

“He’s a high priority for us,” Gomes said.