The Dodgers aren’t counting on Shohei Ohtani to pitch at the start of next season and will wait to see how his rehabilitation progresses following shoulder surgery on his non-throwing arm.

Ohtani had a procedure Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury sustained while sliding during a stolen base attempt in Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26. The two-way star did not pitch this year while recovering from elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023.

“We’re going to take it piece by piece and get through this and then take it in one-, two-week chunks and make sure that we’re in a really good place on each of those benchmarks and then go from there and not try to say, ‘Hey, we need to be ready by this day,’” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Wednesay at the GM Meetings in San Antonio. “We’re going to let the rehab process play out.”

The Dodgers will again open their season overseas, with two highly-anticipated games against the Chicago Cubs in Japan, but this almost certainly means Ohtani is unlikely to pitch in those games.

After signing a record $700 million, 10-year contract, the 30-year-old Ohtani hit .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, becoming the first player with at least 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season.

“I think it’s safe that he will not steal 50 bases next year,” Gomes said. “I have a hunch. I don’t want to count it out, because I don’t ever bet against Shohei.”

He also said All-Star Mookie Betts is likely headed back to the infield next year and the World Series champions would like to reach a new contract with manager Dave Roberts, whose current deal runs through next season.

Ohtani was operated on by head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

“The rehab stages have different lower intensity exercises and may just be movement,” Gomes said. “Our trainers and performance coaches and doctors are all in lockstep on that and we’ll be with him along the way.”

Ohtani has stopped his throwing program.

“He probably would have stopped throwing anyway with the offseason but he needs to recover from this and then get that back up,” Gomes said.

Betts spent the first 72 games of the 2024 season at shortstop after splitting time between second base and right field the previous season. He broke his left hand on June 16 when hit by a pitch and, with the team needing outfield production, moved back to right when he returned on Aug. 12. His shift back to the infield is a product of trying to protect his body and the desire of the 32-year-old, an eight-time All-Star.

“That’s not set in stone, but I think just the toll of the outfield and I think it’s really hard on guys bouncing back and forth,” Gomes said. “It could be second, it could be short. We don’t really know yet. We’ll have those more in-depth conversations soon and get some clarity on it. The beauty of Mookie is he’s the most selfless superstar we’ve ever been around.”

— The Associated Press

Kershaw’s knee, toe ‘fixed’

Clayton Kershaw confirmed with a post on Instagram that he underwent surgeries on his left knee and the big toe on his left foot as scheduled Wednesday.

Kershaw thanked his doctors for “fixing them” and offered this on the plan ahead.

“Planning to crush some rehab and be good as can be next year,” he wrote. “Thanks for all the prayers and support! World Series champs!”

Kershaw was expected to have the meniscus in his left knee repaired. The foot surgery to address a chronic problem that worsened this season was expected to be more complicated.

— Bill Plunkett