As a reminder, Ohtani hasn't pitched since Aug. 23, 2023. He underwent surgery on his pitching elbow less than a month later. At the time, his surgeon said it was to "repair the issue at hand and to reinforce the healthy ligament in place while adding viable tissue for the longevity of the elbow."

“I remind managers who they are and how to use their experience in the game,” Torre to Dan Martin of the New York Post. “I know we get into all the analytics and information — especially this time of year — but I tell them not to give up on their instincts. That’s what got them here. You never want to not use that.”