Dodgers Bench Ohtani as Hitter for Mets Matchup

Two-way star will focus solely on pitching for first time in five years

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:37pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's windup motion, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of blue, orange, and white, conveying the multifaceted nature of Shohei Ohtani's talents.Ohtani's unique dual-threat abilities are deconstructed into a cubist masterpiece, capturing the complexity of the Dodgers' decision to bench their star as a hitter.Los Angeles Today

In a surprising move, the Los Angeles Dodgers have decided to use Shohei Ohtani solely as a pitcher and not as a hitter in Wednesday's game against the New York Mets. This will be the first time since 2021 that Ohtani will not be batting in an MLB game.

Why it matters

Ohtani's ability to excel as both a pitcher and hitter has made him one of the most unique and dominant players in baseball. This decision by the Dodgers to bench him as a hitter is unexpected and raises questions about their strategy and Ohtani's long-term role with the team.

The details

The Dodgers are looking to get more playing time for backup catcher Dalton Rushing, who will serve as the designated hitter in Ohtani's place. The team has also acknowledged that Ohtani is seeking to win the Cy Young Award as a pitcher, and this move will allow him to focus solely on that goal in Wednesday's game.

  • Ohtani has not been solely a pitcher in an MLB game since 2021 with the Los Angeles Angels.
  • Through his first two games of the 2026 season, Ohtani has pitched 12 innings without allowing an earned run.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

A two-way star who has excelled as both a pitcher and hitter, Ohtani is a back-to-back World Series champion and National League MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dalton Rushing

The Dodgers' backup catcher, who has gotten off to a hot start this season and will serve as the designated hitter in Wednesday's game against the Mets.

Will Smith

The Dodgers' All-Star starting catcher, who will remain behind the plate while Ohtani focuses solely on pitching.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who made the decision to bench Ohtani as a hitter for Wednesday's game.

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What they’re saying

“It also takes some weight off the shoulders of Ohtani, who has also been transparent that he is seeking the one trophy that he hasn't captured in the MLB: the Cy Young.”

— Tyler Erzberger, Author

What’s next

If the Dodgers do not provide enough run support for Ohtani as a pitcher, manager Dave Roberts might have a difficult time keeping Ohtani out of the lineup as a hitter for future games.

The takeaway

This decision by the Dodgers to bench Ohtani as a hitter highlights the team's desire to get more playing time for other players while also allowing their two-way star to focus on his goal of winning the Cy Young Award as a pitcher. It remains to be seen how this move will impact Ohtani's overall performance and the Dodgers' success in the series against the Mets.