"MLB redid the baseball rule for Shohei Ohtani in the past" - Braves IF sees hope for Dodgers star batting even if taken out as a reliever

On Saturday, MLB players Zack Short (Atlanta Braves), Ian Happ (Chicago Cubs) and former minor league pitcher Dakota Mekkes discussed the possibility of Shohei Ohtani pitching for the LA Dodgers in the playoffs, and how it may impact his production with the bat. Ohtani is touted as one of the most talented players in baseball history, and is an asset for his team both on the mound and at the plate.

However, Ohtani is currently recovering from an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament, which he had surgery for in September 2023. The injury affects motions such as pitching and throwing the ball in the field, hence the 30-year-old has played only as a DH for the 2024 MLB season.

Though the safest route is not to rush him back before 2025, with the playoffs looming and the Dodgers' starting rotation battling injuries, there have been rumors that Dave Roberts may use Ohtani on the mound during the postseason.

On September 27's episode of 'The Compound', Short assessed the possibility of Ohtani being allowed to bat even if he plays some part on the mound as a reliever. Currently, the official rule states that once a player exits the game, they aren't allowed to come back to the diamond in any capacity.

"It's the Ohtani rule. They made a rule for Ohtani, he doesn't come out of the game [when he pitches as a starting pitcher]." Short said [10:14]

"If they (Dodgers) said, 'He [Shohei Ohtani]'s gonna come out of the pen' , you're telling me MLB's going to say 'yeah, if you take him out, he's done' ? They've redid the baseball rule for Shohei Ohtani in the past." Short added [10:28]

Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers head into the playoffs with significant momentum

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers recorded their latest win over the Colorado Rockies, beating the Rox 2-1 at Coors Field to register a sweep on their hosts. The victory was LA's 98th of the season and leaves the team with the best record in the majors at 98-64. This is especially significant in the postseason as the Dodgers will now have home-field advantage for every playoff series.

Superstar Shohei Ohtani finished an incredible regular season with 54 home runs, 59 stolen bases and 130 RBIs. Experiencing the playoffs for the first time in his career, the 30-year-old is swinging a typically hot bat heading into the opening game of the postseason, batting .628 with 27 hits, 6 home runs and 20 RBIs in his last 10 games.

Dodgers fans will be looking forward with plenty of excitement, as both their team and their star man head into the playoffs with plenty of wind in their sails.