MIAMI – When Cincinnati Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman spoke to reporters Thursday, Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was at the plate on a nearby TV screen.
It brought up the natural question whether Michael Lorenzen, now that he’s being used as a starting pitcher, could be used in a role like Ohtani.
Lorenzen will make his second start of the season Sunday against the Miami Marlins.
“If he’s a starter like Ohtani was, he would get a lot of pinch-hitting performances when you only have a four-man bench during the first five months of the season,” Riggleman said. “I could see him going on the double switch into the outfield type of thing a little bit. They are able to DH (Ohtani).”
Without the DH in the National League, it makes it harder to find a spot in the field for everyday at-bats.
“We really don’t even talk about it that much,” Riggleman said. “I think we all kind of know he could do it, but if you’re trying to put him in the outfield, we’ve got say (Jesse) Winker or (Scott) Schebler out there. They are pretty good. They can hit so are you really gaining anything there?”
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