Shohei Ohtani is determined to make his way back to the pitching mound this MLB season, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are treading cautiously with their prized two-way star. While he continues to progress in his recovery, the team is in no rush to accelerate the timeline following his major elbow injury.
Ohtani Still Recovering from UCL Surgery
Back in August 2023 for the Los Angeles Angels, Shohei Ohtani was active on the mound in a game. However, his season got cut short (very prematurely) due to a torn UCL. While surgery was in order for it, since arriving to the Dodgers, this Japanese genius has made steady progress toward the comeback of his dual-threat capabilities. Ohtani was spotted throwing bullpen sessions in recent weeks, even during the Dodgers' series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Dodgers Playing It Safe With Rehab Progress
After a recent throwing session, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts offered some insight into Ohtani’s progress—but admitted that key details remain undecided.
“He’s working toward his return to the mound,” Roberts said. “I thought he threw the ball well. I don’t know what the next step is in his progression yet, but overall, today was a good day for Shohei.”
At this stage, Ohtani hasn’t introduced sliders back into his bullpen sessions, and he won’t face live hitters until that part of his arsenal is reactivated. Encouragingly, he has already reached 95 mph on the radar gun, signaling that his arm strength is returning. However, the team is prioritizing long-term health over short-term gain.
Patience Is Key for Both Ohtani and Dodgers
Despite the excitement surrounding his potential return, the Dodgers’ coaching staff, especially Roberts, are urging patience.
“I’m trying to restrain myself because I know we’re being very meticulous with this, clearly,” Roberts said. “But yeah, when you see his arm and what it’s capable of, you start thinking about how he could help us right now. But I’m trying to be patient.”
While Ohtani continues to excel as the Dodgers’ designated hitter, a return to pitching isn’t expected until after the All-Star break. Some estimates even suggest his comeback on the mound may align closer to the postseason.
Dodgers Managing Rotation Amid Injuries
Injuries have already tested the Dodgers over pitching depth this season, with Tyler Glasnow among those sidelined. So, they have to be strategic with managing the workloads of some of their other key starters, such as Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both of whom have recently been working on five-day rest instead of the standard six.
With rotation difficulties and Ohtani joining forces, fans will have to wait a little longer for the two-way phenom to resume his full capacity. Although that timeline may cause a little bit of anxiety, the team agrees that Ohtani's long-term health and success comes first.