Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Bicep Issue Could Force Tough Decision on Two-Way Future

The Los Angeles Dodgers got a bit of a scare Friday night when Shohei Ohtani felt something in his biceps during his final at-bat against the Padres. The good news? Manager Dave Roberts told reporters Saturday that Ohtani feels ‘considerably better today’ and that he’s hopeful the superstar will be in the lineup Sunday.

But here’s where it gets complicated. Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton that the pain was in the same spot he felt a couple months ago. That time it went away pretty quickly, and he expects the same outcome again. He admitted the swing hurt, but said he could play through it.

Same spot, different stakes

The timing is interesting, coming right before the Fourth of July series against the Padres and with the Dodgers holding a massive 14-game lead in the NL West. But the real concern isn’t one game in June. It’s what this might mean for Ohtani’s future as both a pitcher and hitter.

ESPN’s Buster Olney has already speculated that Ohtani might eventually have to choose between throwing and hitting. This latest biceps issue gives that theory a little more weight. Nobody’s saying that’s happening tomorrow or even this season. But the debate is back on the table.

The Dodgers are being careful. Ohtani isn’t expected to throw or swing in this Padres rematch, and fans heading to Chavez Ravine probably won’t see him doing much more than watching from the dugout. The team elevated catcher Eliezer Alfonzo from Triple-A on Saturday, but that move wasn’t related to Ohtani’s injury.

What’s really going on

Here’s what we know. Ohtani felt discomfort in his biceps during that Friday at-bat. The team described the sensation as similar to a previous episode that resolved on its own. Ohtani himself said it went away quickly last time, so he’s optimistic.

But biceps issues for a two-way player are different than biceps issues for a regular hitter. When you combine elite-level pitching mechanics with explosive hitting, the arm takes a beating from both sides. That’s the thing people sometimes forget. It’s not just doing two jobs. It’s two jobs that each put immense strain on the same arm.

For now, the Dodgers are in a great spot. They’re 58-31 and sitting comfortably at the top of the standings. They don’t need to rush anything. But the long-term question about Ohtani’s durability as a two-way player isn’t going away. This is just the latest chapter.