Ohtani open to outfield move to bolster Dodgers bullpen
Two-way star says he would consider playing the outfield in October to help the bullpen and preserve his role as a hitter, as Los Angeles seeks relief help ahead of the postseason.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani said he would consider playing the outfield this October to help the bullpen, a possibility he discussed with Japanese media members and MLB.com. Ohtani, who has not logged time in the outfield in four years, said he would be prepared to contribute wherever the team needs him.
"I've had different conversations with different people, and of course that's come up," Ohtani said. "As a player, if I'm told to go somewhere, I want to be prepared to do so. That's on the mound and perhaps even in the outfield."
Moving Ohtani to the outfield could allow the Dodgers to deploy him as a reliever while still keeping a designated hitter slot for him in certain games. If he starts a game as the DH and later comes in as a reliever, the Dodgers would lose the DH for the remainder of that game. The club is actively seeking bullpen help as it nears October.
In their last 10 games, Los Angeles relievers have posted a 7.36 ERA. Overall this season, the Dodgers bullpen owns a 4.30 ERA, 11th-highest in baseball. Ohtani, who has pitched primarily as a starter this season, has shown he can be a factor on the mound, and Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior suggested he could pitch out of the bullpen in the postseason last month.
It's been four years since Ohtani played the outfield, and he has only seven career big-league appearances there. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts appeared to downplay the idea of a positional flip but stopped short of ruling it out.
"He's a great teammate," Roberts said. "He wants to help us win a championship. So, I'm all about it. I don't know how that looks, though. He hasn't taken a fly ball all year."
Ohtani also delivered five no-hit innings against the Phillies on Tuesday, underscoring his ability to influence both sides of the game. The idea of a temporary shift to the outfield would be aimed at unlocking more versatility and innings from a player the Dodgers already lean on for big moments. As postseason plans firm up, Los Angeles is weighing every option that could strengthen the bullpen without compromising its lineup and defensive depth.
The discussion comes as the Dodgers prepare for a tight race in the National League, where every inning matters in October. No formal decision has been announced, and coaches said the team would only pursue a change if it could meaningfully improve bullpen performance without compromising the rest of the roster. Ohtani, for his part, indicated a willingness to adapt if the team needs him in a different role to chase a championship.
