In a World Series matchup loaded with storylines, one was seemingly put to rest Thursday: Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will not make a dramatic return to the mound to face the New York Yankees.

With the 30-year-old Ohtani now 13 months removed from elbow surgery to repair his torn UCL in Sept. 2023, rumblings have persisted as to whether or not he has been secretly ramping up to pitch in the World Series. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave a blunt answer to a reporter when asked about that possibility on Thursday.

The race was on to reach Shohei Ohtani first. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar waited calmly as a horde of media rushed toward him on the eve of his first World Series.