Dave Roberts defended Shohei Ohtani against criticism from Craig Counsell regarding roster rules for pitchers. Counsell's comments targeted the Dodgers' management of Ohtani's unique two-way capabilities.
Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Craig Counsell, manager of the Cubs, singled out the Dodgers and Ohtani on Monday while addressing the number of pitchers teams are allowed on their roster at this point in the season.
What did Craig Counsell say about Shohei Ohtani?
As reported by Jay Cohen of the Associated Press, Counsell called it “bizarre” that the Dodgers can carry 14 pitchers, not just the 13 allowed at this point in the season, because Ohtani’s two-way status means he doesn’t count as both a position player and a pitcher.
“There’s not another player like that, but one team gets different rules for that player,” said Counsell.
Counsell added that he believes the 13-pitcher limit — which increases to 14 starting Sept. 1 — is intended to be “a rule to help offense, I think, more than anything.”
“And then there’s one team that’s allowed to carry basically one of both, and that he gets special consideration,” he said. “Which is probably the most bizarre rule. … For one team.”
Q&A
What did Craig Counsell criticize about Shohei Ohtani?
Craig Counsell criticized the Dodgers for their management of Shohei Ohtani in relation to the number of pitchers allowed on the roster.
How did Dave Roberts respond to Craig Counsell's comments?
Dave Roberts pushed back against Counsell's criticism, defending Ohtani's role and the Dodgers' roster decisions.
What are the current roster rules for pitchers in MLB?
MLB teams have specific limits on the number of pitchers they can have on their roster, which can vary throughout the season.
Why is Shohei Ohtani considered a two-way superstar?
Shohei Ohtani is regarded as a two-way superstar because he excels both as a pitcher and a hitter, a rare combination in modern baseball.
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Doc admitted that the Dodgers benefited from the rule more so than other teams, but in his view, that’s not the fault of the Dodgers or Ohtani.
“The thing is it certainly benefits us because we have the player…We’re more than willing for other teams to go out and find a player who can do both,” he said. “He’s an exception because he’s an exceptional player. It is what it is.”
What makes Shohei Ohtani special as a pitcher and a batter?
Ohtani’s value is not just that he pitches and hits; it’s that he does both at an elite level.
As a hitter, he’s one of the best in baseball, as shown by his 109 home runs in his first two seasons with the Dodgers.
His average exit velocity and max exit velocity are both in the top 4% of MLB, as is his expected weighted on-base average, per Baseball Savant.
And while he’s elite at getting on base, he’s also elite at keeping runners off the bases when he’s pitching.
Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
His weighted on-base average is in the top 4% of MLB, and his expected ERA of 2.28 is in the top 8%.
So far this season, he’s outperforming those expectations, racking up a 2-0 record in three games and notching a 0.50 ERA, with only one earned run allowed.
He also has 18 strikeouts against only six walks and seven hits.
So yes, the Dodgers are getting an elite batter and elite pitcher with only one roster spot, but that’s not some sort of special rule for the Boys in Blue.
Instead, Los Angeles has a player who’s truly in a class of his own, and as Roberts said, other teams are welcome to go out and find their own two-way players.
But whether that two-way player can be as good as Ohtani, that remains to be seen.
What’s next for the Dodgers and Cubs?
That’s for the future, though. This week, the Dodgers host the Cubs for a three-game series starting Friday, so Counsell and his team will get to see the superstar Ohtani up close.