Why Dodgers pulled Shohei Ohtani from pitching, and what it means for him batting

Shohei Ohtani tried to get an out in the seventh inning for the first time with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He couldn't do it, though, and manager Dave Roberts strolled to the mound to take the baseball from him.

He left two runners on base for reliever Anthony Banda.

Ohtani had already given up a two-run home run to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

But thanks to the "Ohtani rule," he didn't have to come out completely.

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Why did the Dodgers pull Shohei Ohtani?

Ohtani's pitch count had gotten into the 90s, and the Blue Jays started the seventh inning with a single by Daulton Varsho and a double off the fence by Ernie Clement.

Roberts chose that Ohtani needed to exit at that point for the lefty Banda to face Andres Gimenez, a lefty hitter.

Can Shohei Ohtani still hit?

Yes, Ohtani will remain in the Dodgers' lineup in the leadoff spot as the DH.

The rule instituted by MLB in 2022 allows for just that to happen. A pitcher already in the DH spot can stay there even when he comes out of the game.

So far, it's only a rule that has been applied to Ohtani, so it's called by some the "Ohtani Rule."

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