Everyone loves Shohei Ohtani, except for the 29 MLB teams that have to play against him.
The Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter and pitcher is a two-way spectacle that the league hasn’t seen since Babe Ruth — literally. Last week, Ohtani joined Ruth as the only MLB players since 1913 to have simultaneous streaks of 30-plus games getting on base and 30-plus innings pitched without giving up an earned run (via OptaSTATS).
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is still wrapping his head around Ohtani’s two-way designation.
On Monday, Counsell was asked about the league’s rule that teams may carry only 13 pitchers on the active roster, in relation to Ohtani. Ohtani is technically the Dodgers’ 14th pitcher, but since he’s officially listed as a two-way player, the Dodgers have a loophole to still meet MLB’s 13-pitcher restriction.
“It’s a rule to help offense, I think, more than anything, if you ask me,” Counsell said, per the Associated Press. “And then there’s one team that’s allowed to carry basically one of both, and that he gets special consideration, which is probably the most bizarre rule. […] For one team.”
Counsell added, “There’s not another player like that, but one team gets different rules for that player.”
It’s unclear why Counsell was asked about this before the Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 on Monday night, but Ohtani has tended to dominate baseball conversations for the past few years.
Ohtani was an MLB All-Star and global superstar while playing for the Los Angeles Angels from 2018 to 2023, but he entered the G.O.A.T. conversation when he departed for the Dodgers.
Ohtani won two AL MVPs with the Angels and is currently the back-to-back reigning NL MVP for the Dodgers. The Dodgers are also back-to-back reigning champions, going for a three-peat in 2026.
Ohtani is currently hitting .273/.396/.519 with five home runs, 11 RBI, and 14 walks. He’s also 2-0 in three starts with a 0.50 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts against six walks as a pitcher.
The Cubs (13-9) and Dodgers (16-6) will face off for the first time this season when the Cubs visit Dodger Stadium this weekend. Ohtani isn’t scheduled to pitch against the Cubs.
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