Cubs Manager Questions Unfairness of 'Ohtani Rule'; Dodgers Manager Says: Find Your Own Two-Way Player
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell criticized MLB's 'two-way player' rule as unfairly benefiting only the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts rebutted, welcoming other teams to discover their own two-way talents.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 09:18
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 09:31 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 12:51 (3h 19m after Collected)
Central News
(CNA Correspondent Lin Hung-han, Los Angeles, 21st) Major League Baseball instituted a "two-way player" roster designation in 2020, dubbed by the media as the "Ohtani Rule." Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell criticized the rule for exclusively favoring the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani, a claim that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has rebutted.
With multiple pitchers on the injured list for the Chicago Cubs, manager Craig Counsell was asked by U.S. media yesterday about roster flexibility, which led him to bring up the two-way player rule known as the Ohtani Rule.
In MLB games, the coaching staff has a 26-man roster available, with a limit of 13 pitchers. Starting in 2020, MLB introduced the two-way player rule, allowing players who meet specific criteria to not count against the pitcher limit.
The original intent of the 13-pitcher limit was to prevent an excessive parade of relief pitchers, forcing teams to carry more hitters and increasing pinch-hitting opportunities. The intent of exempting two-way players from the pitcher limit was to encourage players capable of both pitching and hitting.
Counsell argued that the Dodgers benefit from this two-way roster spot, effectively giving them a 14th pitcher. He stated he "never understood the rule."
He criticized: "The intent of the rule was primarily to help offense. But the result is now one team legally gets to use one player as two, enjoying a special provision. It's probably the strangest rule; only one team gets to play this way."
The two-way designation has strict conditions: in the current or previous two seasons, the player must pitch at least 20 innings and start at least 20 games as a position player or designated hitter, with at least 3 plate appearances per game. Position players who do not meet these criteria can only pitch in extra innings or if a team is leading/trailing by 6 or more runs.
Because Shohei Ohtani does not take up a pitcher spot, the Dodgers can use a 6-man starting rotation and still have 8 relief pitchers available in the bullpen. If other teams use a 6-man rotation, their bullpen would only have 7 pitchers.
Shohei Ohtani is the only player to have met these conditions since the rule's inception. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts refuted Counsell's criticism when speaking to the media on the 20th.
Roberts said: "It certainly benefits us because we have a player who can do it. But the point is, any team that has an Ohtani can enjoy this two-way spot. We would love to see other teams go out and find a player who can both pitch and hit."
Ohtani's unique status has sparked much debate. Two weeks ago, when the Toronto Blue Jays played the Dodgers, they also questioned the umpires, expressing dissatisfaction that Ohtani received extra warm-up time when transitioning from hitting to the pitcher's mound. (Editor: Tien Jui-hua) 1150422
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(CNA Correspondent Lin Hung-han, Los Angeles, 21st) Major League Baseball instituted a "two-way player" roster designation in 2020, dubbed by the media as the "Ohtani Rule." Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell criticized the rule for exclusively favoring the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani, a claim that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has rebutted.
With multiple pitchers on the injured list for the Chicago Cubs, manager Craig Counsell was asked by U.S. media yesterday about roster flexibility, which led him to bring up the two-way player rule known as the Ohtani Rule.
In MLB games, the coaching staff has a 26-man roster available, with a limit of 13 pitchers. Starting in 2020, MLB introduced the two-way player rule, allowing players who meet specific criteria to not count against the pitcher limit.
The original intent of the 13-pitcher limit was to prevent an excessive parade of relief pitchers, forcing teams to carry more hitters and increasing pinch-hitting opportunities. The intent of exempting two-way players from the pitcher limit was to encourage players capable of both pitching and hitting.
Counsell argued that the Dodgers benefit from this two-way roster spot, effectively giving them a 14th pitcher. He stated he "never understood the rule."
He criticized: "The intent of the rule was primarily to help offense. But the result is now one team legally gets to use one player as two, enjoying a special provision. It's probably the strangest rule; only one team gets to play this way."
The two-way designation has strict conditions: in the current or previous two seasons, the player must pitch at least 20 innings and start at least 20 games as a position player or designated hitter, with at least 3 plate appearances per game. Position players who do not meet these criteria can only pitch in extra innings or if a team is leading/trailing by 6 or more runs.
Because Shohei Ohtani does not take up a pitcher spot, the Dodgers can use a 6-man starting rotation and still have 8 relief pitchers available in the bullpen. If other teams use a 6-man rotation, their bullpen would only have 7 pitchers.
Shohei Ohtani is the only player to have met these conditions since the rule's inception. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts refuted Counsell's criticism when speaking to the media on the 20th.
Roberts said: "It certainly benefits us because we have a player who can do it. But the point is, any team that has an Ohtani can enjoy this two-way spot. We would love to see other teams go out and find a player who can both pitch and hit."
Ohtani's unique status has sparked much debate. Two weeks ago, when the Toronto Blue Jays played the Dodgers, they also questioned the umpires, expressing dissatisfaction that Ohtani received extra warm-up time when transitioning from hitting to the pitcher's mound. (Editor: Tien Jui-hua) 1150422
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First-hand News" APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.