Andrew Friedman walked into the Los Angeles Dodgers press room Wednesday afternoon and answered a big looming question heading into the 2027 season. 

Shohei Ohtani will indeed continue his two-way duties next season after dealing with his ailing bicep and left knee throughout the majority of 2026. Friedman also added that surgery "is not on the table" for Ohtani this offseason, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. 

Ohtani entered 2026 as a full-time two-way player — for the first time in a Dodgers uniform — and was among the game's best arms. In 14 games started, the right-hander posted a 1.79 ERA with 95 strikeouts across 85.2 innings pitched. 

He last pitched on July 3 against the San Diego Padres and from then on dealt with left knee inflammation. This injury spiraled from there as a right bicep flare-up quickly followed that earlier diagnosis, and discomfort in his neck was the killing blow to Ohtani’s effectiveness down the stretch. 

To Ohtani’s credit, he did everything that was asked of him in terms of his ramp-up. He had a flurry of bullpen sessions thrown following his shutdown from the mound before the All-Star break, and was even in line to pitch on Aug. 30 against the Detroit Tigers. 

Unfortunately, that amount of ramp-up proved to be ineffective as Ohtani landed on the Injured List on Sept. 11. This move was not only the first time Ohtani landed on the IL as a member of the Dodgers, but also opened the door for top prospect Josue De Paula to make his professional debut in the big leagues. 

Alongside the struggles of getting back to the mound, Ohtani struggled substantially at the plate. Once he was activated off the IL on Sept. 23, he had just five games to readjust before the Dodgers kicked off their road to a three-peat in the postseason. 

Though the Dodgers would reach the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Ohtani was absent offensively. Ohtani did make one last hurrah in Game 4, launching his first home run since Aug. 18 to deep right field to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead. 

The Dodgers eventually succumbed to a sweep at home, and the Brewers punched their ticket to the World Series, knocking out the defending champs. 

Now, looking ahead, Friedman “fully expects” Ohtani to pitch next season, according to Ardaya. 

Ohtani also expects a lot of himself heading into his fourth year with the Dodgers, saying that he is “looking forward to having a better season next year,” per Ardaya.