The Reddit thread said the quiet part out loud. The Blue Jays might face a rule that lets Shohei Ohtani pitch and still keep his bat in the order after he leaves the mound. With this Ohtani rule in play, Blue Jays fans are naturally concerned. The post title called it unfair to everyone in MLB except the Dodgers. The concern makes sense in October. One player keeps changing the game every time he walks to the plate. A fan said, “Walk him every time. I do not care if it is boring.” That is the mood across Canada and far beyond. The goal is not style points. The goal is a ring.
What the rule says, and what history teaches about free passes
In 2022, MLB changed the designated hitter rule for a true two-way starter. If a player starts as pitcher and DH, he can remain as DH after the team goes to the bullpen. That is the so-called Ohtani rule, and it is on the books right now. Because of the unique situation, it’s interesting to consider how the Blue Jays might navigate this rule when Ohtani is involved. It exists to let a rare player do both jobs without punishing his team on the lineup card. On paper anyone can use it. In practice, we all know the name that makes it matter most.
So do you walk him. That is not a meme. It is a strategy with a record. Teams gave Barry Bonds 120 intentional walks in 2004 and piled him up across the early 2000s. The Angels gave him 7 intentional walks in the 2002 World Series, and he still posted a 700 on base mark in that Series. Free bases can be smart. For example, with Ohtani’s presence, the rule could make it even trickier when facing the Blue Jays. They can also burn you when the next hitter is a star. The Dodgers lineup has Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman behind Ohtani. That is why John Schneider said it is not easy to just give the pass and face the next bat. You pick your spots. You make the rest of the order win the game.
“It is not the easiest thing in the world to just walk him and face Mookie and Freddie.” — John Schneider, after Game 3.
The math matters. Ohtanis on base mark sat over 430 in 2024. That means more than 4 trips out of 10 ends with him on first or better. The Ohtani rule Blue Jays fans should watch closely could make this more prevalent. A free pass can be the right trade when the base situation favors a double play or when first base is open. It can be the wrong trade with traffic on and a right-handed bat like Betts or Freeman due next. The margin is thin. The plan must be precise.
How Toronto can play it now, and what the rule could mean later
Rule first. Emotion second. If the count tilts, take the ball. If the base is open, swallow pride and point to first. Work the edges when you attack. Spin below the belt. Miss off the plate, not over it. Keep runners busy with picks and holds. Crowd the rest of the order with early strikes. Traffic before his spot changes everything. It sets up force outs and keeps the park quiet. It also forces the Dodgers to choose. Do they run, they bunt and Do they hit and run. Your job is to make them choose.
There is one more layer. This rule might shape the sport for years. Front offices already draft more two-way athletes than before. In 2023 teams took a record 8 two-way players across 20 rounds. Ohtani himself has said he hopes more players will try both crafts. The Jays can treat this as a one player problem today and still notice the future. If more kids grow into this lane, the sport changes. With the Ohtani rule, Blue Jays and other teams’ strategies might adapt as these players become more common. You will scout for it. You will budget for it. And you will game plan for it every fall.
Toronto can survive the spotlight if it treats the noise like weather. Do the simple things well. Take the base. Take the out. Do not feed his lift zones. If a free pass makes sense, take it and move on. In the context of baseball, the Ohtani rule is something for Blue Jays fans to consider seriously. If you pitch to him, accept singles and live to face the next swing. The job is not to prove a point. The job is to win 4 games.
I bounce between stadium seats and window seats, chasing games and new places. Sports fuel my heart, travel clears my head, and every trip ends with a story worth sharing.
