MLB analyst Doug McKain likely has the answer to what went wrong with Shohei Ohtani after the Los Angeles Dodgers were eliminated in the NLCS by the Milwaukee Brewers. Ohtani struggled with multiple injuries heading into this year’s postseason, including right biceps discomfort and knee soreness. As a result, he looked like a shadow of himself in September and October, leading to the Dodgers’ embarrassing defeat in the NLCS.

According to McKain, the Dodgers made a mistake by giving Ohtani too much freedom in his pursuit to become the “best pitcher” and “best hitter” on the planet.

“You do not give a workaholic the ability to create his own schedule because if you do, all he’ll do is work and he’ll work himself into the ground,” McKain said (per Dodgers Nation via X). “Sometimes the best thing a superstar like Shohei can do is nothing. He wants to be the best hitter; he wants to be the best pitcher. His pursuit of both? It could compromise the ability to dominate either of those.”

Ohtani started the 2026 season strong as a two-way star. He was pitching like an NL Cy Young favorite, going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts over 14 starts. However, the Japanese ace was removed from the rotation in July due to knee soreness. While rehabbing, Ohtani suffered a setback, and in September the team decided he would not pitch for the rest of the season so he could focus on hitting.

Despite shutting down his mound activity, Ohtani was unable to perform well at the plate. His struggles began to hurt the Dodgers in the postseason, as the four-time MVP hit just .192 with one home run, three RBIs, and a .631 OPS in eight games, as per Sports Illustrated via Yahoo Sports.

Shohei Ohtani Would Return to Mound in 2027: Dodgers President

There was a lot of speculation about Shohei Ohtani following the Dodgers’ disappointing postseason exit. Many suggested the franchise should not let Ohtani pitch anymore. Surgery concerns also surfaced heading into the offseason.

On Wednesday, Dodgers president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, confirmed that Ohtani will not undergo surgery this offseason and will return to the mound in 2027.

“I fully expect him to pitch next year,” Friedman said, according to Yahoo Sports.

However, Friedman didn’t clarify whether Ohtani will return right at the start of the season. The Dodgers could put an innings limit on him so he can manage his workload throughout the season.

Ohtani appears to want to continue as a two-way star, and the Dodgers will once again hope to keep him healthy for October.