"I assumed chronic elbow surgery would be inevitable" - Shohei Ohtani shares major revelation about his long-term plans in MLB

Shohei Ohtani may be a superstar but has had his fair share of injuries like any other sportsperson. He has undergone two elbow surgeries on his right elbow, so he couldn't pitch in 2024 (also in 2019).

However, the Dodgers superstar knew that his latest surgery was on the cards but that he's not planning to get another on his elbow for at least five years when he will be 35. Moreover, he said that he thinks he should have undergone Tommy John surgery a bit earlier in his career.

"From a young age, I have built my body up with the expectation that I would get injured to a certain extent," Ohtani said via Yahoo Japan on Nov. 9.

"I assumed that chronic elbow surgery would inevitably come along as my power output increases. As for TJ (Tommy John surgery), I was sure I would have to have it, so I didn't think it would be in my first year in the majors, but I was sure I would have it.

"I had assumed that the second time would happen after five or six years of pitching (his second surgery in his fourth year since returning to pitch in 2020), but on the other hand, five or six years have passed since then, and it's been around the end of this year, so looking back now, I think it might have been better to have a second TJ earlier, rather than at the end of my 30s."

Many anticipate that if Shohei Ohtani undergoes another surgery on his right elbow, he may no longer pitch.

"Even though it's called Tommy John surgery, how much I can throw depends on how damaged the ligament is," Ohtani added. "After considering various options, I would realistically like to wait five years or more before having a third (right elbow surgery).

"In terms of age, for example, having a third (right elbow) surgery when I'm over 35 and taking a year to return, whether that's the right choice or not depends on my conditioning at the time, so realistically, I think it's ideal for a pitcher to have no more than two (right elbow surgeries)."

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Shohei Ohtani's addition to the roster could lead Dodgers to adopt 6-man rotation

After undergoing his second elbow surgery in September 2023, Shohei Ohtani was restricted from throwing for the entirety of the 2024 season. After a year in rehab, he will be good to go on the mound once again in 2025.

However, that will require Dave Roberts & Co. to adopt a six man rotation. After signing Blake Snell to a five year, $182 million deal a couple of weeks ago, the Dodgers are flushed with starting pitchers.

They will likely have Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto leading the rotation, followed by Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw (likely to re-sign), Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin.

Although it would be an exit from the traditional five-man starting pitching rotation, to accommodate all of them and keep most healthy when it comes to pitching in playoffs, it seems like the best approach, according to Roberts.