Shohei Ohtani let out a yell as he circled the bases following a three-run home run in Game 4 of the NLCS against Milwaukee. His contribution put the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead by four runs at that point in the contest.

Down four runs as their turn at bat arrived, Milwaukee's hitters produced enough to reverse the deficit and secure a 6-4 victory against Los Angeles. Four games were all it took for the Dodgers' bid at a third consecutive World Series title to come to an end in the NLCS.

Ohtani's bat went quiet during a stretch when the Dodgers were pushing toward a record in the league. Following the conclusion of the season, MLB analyst Fabian Ardaya noted that the team's approach to planning around the Japanese star warranted a fresh look, pointing out in a statement that the player had not performed at his usual level even before injuries accumulated, with his output from August onward falling noticeably below his established standard.

Ardaya, writing for The Athletic, noted in a Foul Territory appearance that the player's scheduling across both roles would likely need to be reconsidered, while adding that the player himself has expressed a continuing desire to pitch and to maintain both commitments.

One approach being weighed is whether Ohtani would open the next campaign primarily as a batter, with pitching responsibilities phased in gradually from around June onward — mirroring the structure used the previous year.

Ohtani took the mound and stepped into the batter's box as a full-time two-way contributor at the season's outset, marking his return to that dual role following recovery from a second Tommy John procedure. From the outset, a range of concerns weighed on him.

At one point during the season, Ohtani put together a stretch of pitching that drew Cy Young Award comparisons, anchored by a 1.79 ERA. Offensive output at the plate fell off across that span, with his numbers reflecting a stretch of reduced production. On start days, the Dodgers kept Ohtani out of the batting lineup as part of an effort to manage his overall workload.

Those measures provided limited relief, and Ohtani went on to face physical complications. On the Foul Territory broadcast, Ardaya raised the point that pitchers face a greater likelihood of injury than batters do. Ardaya noted that placing such a heavy emphasis on the pitching side had, at certain points early in the season, led to arrangements where Ohtani would take the mound without stepping in as a batter that same game.

Placing emphasis on the pitching side of the roster would introduce additional uncertainty into the equation, Ardaya noted, adding that pitching carries a higher injury risk than hitting and that the physical toll of continuing to throw eventually affected Ohtani's health.

Knee inflammation that persisted through his pitching appearances became a recurring problem for Ohtani. Throwing from the mound placed added strain on his knee joints. Neck and biceps discomfort added to the physical challenges facing the player, who had previously won the league's top individual honour on multiple occasions.

Following his appearance on July 3, the team placed him on a pitching restriction. The physical setbacks Ohtani had been managing beforehand remained unresolved by the transition.

Ohtani had gone without a home run from August 18 through Game 3 of the NLCS. An arm strain he sustained in September landed him on the injured list for the first time during his tenure with the Dodgers. Ohtani took the field just eight times over that final stretch of the season, with an injured list placement consuming 15 of those days and injuries limiting his availability throughout. A batting average of .200 accompanied his single RBI and three runs scored.

During eight postseason appearances, Ohtani collected five hits across 26 at-bats, drove in three runners, crossed the plate three times, and added a solo home run to his playoff ledger.

Regardless of whether Ohtani opts for surgery to address his physical concerns — a decision he indicated through translator Will Ireton would be evaluated and weighed across the coming offseason — the Dodgers face the task of mapping out how his playing responsibilities will be structured in 2027, a conversation that has taken on added weight following the team's postseason exit. Heading into his age-33 season, Ohtani's path back to the pitching mound will depend on how the Dodgers manage his rehabilitation and build around his return.