CHICAGO — Cubs manager Craig Counsell recently shared his thoughts on a Major League Baseball rule that permits the Los Angeles Dodgers to have 14 pitchers on their roster, thanks to Shohei Ohtani. He called the rule “bizarre.”
Normally, teams can have a maximum of 13 pitchers from the start of the season until the end of August. When September arrives, that limit raises to 14 pitchers on a 28-player roster.
But because Ohtani is classified as a two-way player, he doesn’t count as one of those pitchers. This unique status allows the Dodgers to carry an extra arm in their bullpen.
Before a series against Philadelphia, Counsell expressed confusion over why this restriction exists. “I think it’s a rule that favors offense,” he said. “One team gets a special exception for basically one player. It’s just odd.”
The two-way player rule was introduced in 2020. To qualify, a player must have pitched at least 20 innings and also made 20 starts as a position player or designated hitter, with a minimum of three plate appearances in each game during one of the last three seasons. Shohei Ohtani is currently the only player who meets these criteria.
Counsell, who played in the majors for 16 years, noted the rarity of Ohtani’s talent. “There’s no one like him in the game,” he remarked. Yet, he questions why the Dodgers benefit from a rule that seems tailored just for Ohtani.
Interestingly, this conversation isn’t just a baseball matter. According to a recent survey from the Sports Business Journal, 67% of fans believe that sometimes, rules should be adjusted to suit exceptional talent. Ohtani’s unique ability as both a pitcher and hitter certainly falls into that category.
As the MLB continues to evolve, discussions like this highlight how certain rules can impact fairness and competition. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see if any changes arise from these debates.
