Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts threw cold water Wednesday on hopes fans in Tokyo would see Shohei Ohtani pitch in March when his team opens its 2025 season against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome.

Speaking at the announcement of commercials he filmed for Japan’s Kinoshita Group, Roberts said managing the two-way star’s workload next year, after his September 2023 elbow surgery, would likely preclude his appearing on the Tokyo Dome mound.

“I expect him to be in the lineup as a hitter,” Roberts said. “But as far as the pitching, because he hasn’t pitched in over a year, we have to manage how many innings he has for 2025, and if we start him in March, he won’t be able to sustain that through October.”

“So we have to figure out when to begin Shohei pitching in games. I don’t see that in March.”

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts speaks during an event hosted by a housing maker in Tokyo on Dec. 4, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

The skipper believes Ohtani, who won his third unanimous MVP award this year, can still be better as a hitter but thinks he will have fewer plate appearances as he resumes pitching.

“With Shohei, there were parts of the season where he was a little too aggressive swinging,” Roberts said. “I think that there’s room there for him to be a little more disciplined at the plate where we can potentially make him better.”