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It goes without saying that by being a unicorn, Shohei Ohtani surely gets "exceptions."
Major League Baseball allows 13 pitchers connected a roster, but nan Los Angeles Dodgers, including Ohtani, person 14. That's because Ohtani is officially listed arsenic a two-way player, not a pitcher.
During a crippled successful Philadelphia connected Monday, Chicago Cubs head Craig Counsell was asked astir nan 13-pitcher norm when, unprovoked, hinted astatine nan Dodgers and Ohtani getting a "special consideration."
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Los Angeles Dodgers two-way subordinate Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches against nan Toronto Blue Jays successful nan 5th inning during Game 4 of nan 2025 World Series astatine Dodger Stadium. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
"It’s a norm to thief offense, I think, much than anything, if you inquire me," Counsell said. "And past there’s 1 squad that’s allowed to transportation fundamentally 1 of both, and that he gets typical consideration. Which is astir apt nan astir bizarre rule. ... For 1 team."
The two-way subordinate nickname is for players pinch astatine slightest 20 innings sounded successful nan awesome leagues and astatine slightest 20 large convention starts arsenic a position subordinate aliases designated hitter, pinch astatine slightest 3 sheet appearances successful each of those games. The subordinate has to scope those numbers successful nan existent aliases immoderate 1 of nan 2 astir caller seasons.
The nickname went into effect for nan 2020 season. The 31-year-old Ohtani is nan only existent subordinate who meets nan criteria.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates aft hitting a azygous against nan Toronto Blue Jays successful nan eighth inning during crippled 2 of nan 2025 MLB World Series astatine Rogers Centre. (Dan Hamilton/Imagn Images)
SHOHEI OHTANI ON-BASE STREAK TRACKER: OHTANI TIES CHOO, MILLAR WITH 52-STRAIGHT
"There’s not different subordinate for illustration that, but 1 squad gets different rules for that player," said Counsell.
Dodgers head Dave Roberts, however, defended nan norm and noted that it's disposable to everyone.
"The point is, it surely benefits us, because we person nan player," Roberts said successful Colorado. "But that’s thing that, immoderate squad that had Ohtani would person that player."
"We’re much than consenting for different teams to spell retired and find a subordinate who tin do both. He’s an objection because he’s an exceptional player. It is what it is."
Entering nan 2022 season, months aft Ohtani's time was trim short aft pitching conscionable one-third of an inning while hitting leadoff, Major League Baseball made a norm truthful that if a starting pitcher was successful nan batting lineup, he could enactment successful nan lineup moreover aft being taken retired of nan mound arsenic a designated two-way player.
Shohei Ohtani of nan Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates aft hitting a location tally during nan seventh inning against nan Toronto Blue Jays successful crippled 3 of nan 2025 World Series astatine Dodger Stadium connected Oct. 27, 2025 successful Los Angeles, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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During nan World Series and moreover earlier this month, Ohtani brought attraction to seemingly longer warmup sessions connected nan mound because he had been connected nan basepaths.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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