Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Reveals How Shoulder Surgery Will Affect Shohei Ohtani in 2025

Shohei Ohtani underwent surgery shortly after the World Series to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Tommy John surgery restricted the 2024 National League MVP from pitching this season, which raises concern for how this operation will affect his 2025 season.

This season, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts does not expect the surgery to hinder his performance at the plate. But, Roberts thinks there will be a reduction in Ohtani’s base-stealing abilities next season.

“I don’t think it will affect the offense,” Roberts said on SportsNetLA. “I do think that there’s going to be some curtail in the stolen bases, because he’s going to be pitching.”

More News: Has Shohei Ohtani Recruited Roki Sasaki to LA? Dodgers Star Answers

Ohtani has said that he will not rush through the recovery process. Roberts explained how managing the effectiveness of his recovery will require communication throughout the organization.

“I think the thing that I don’t think any of us has an answer to John, in the sense of he’s only got so many bullets or innings coming off Tommy John, so how we ramp up in spring training when we start this process,” Roberts said. “I think we all understand that we need to have him as strong and as fresh as we get into September through October. So it’s not an exact science. There’s going to be a lot of conversation with Shohei, the training staff, the doctors.”

Fortunately, Ohtani injured his non-throwing shoulder. This is a good sign that Ohtani will get to make his Dodgers debut on the mound in 2025.

“I don’t think that the shoulder surgery that he had, because it was the left shoulder, should affect the pitching,” Roberts said. “And I do think that the hitting will be a full recovery.”

Although it is undetermined who will start in the season opener, Ohtani is expected to be fully healthy for Opening Day.

READ MORE: MLB rumors: Dodgers start extension talks with postseason star, Giants evaluating intriguing Japanese pitcher

Here are the latest hot stove rumors as we await the first major free-agent signing of the offseason

The 2024-25 MLB offseason is more than three weeks old and we’re still waiting for the first big free-agent signing. That’s not unusual. Rarely does a top free agent come off the board before Thanksgiving. The action will begin soon enough, I promise. Here now are Sunday’s hot stove updates as the annual Winter Meetings approach.

Dodgers, Edman have begun extension talks

The Dodgers and NLCS MVP Tommy Edman have held preliminary contract extension talks, reports MLB.com. The World Series champs acquired Edman from the Cardinals in the three-team Erick Fedde trade with the White Sox at the trade deadline. Edman is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2025 season and the Dodgers hope to prevent that from happening.

Now 29, Edman hit .237/.294/.417 in 37 games with the Dodgers after the trade, then put up a .328/.354/.508 line in October. The Dodgers are expected to move Edman back to center field next year after he played shortstop in October. An extension for Edman could look similar to the four-year, $60 million contract the Dodgers gave Chris Taylor during the 2021-22 offseason.