Shohei Ohtani Progresses in His Pitching Recovery: Soon in the Dodgers’ Rotation?
Shohei Ohtani has taken a significant step in his recovery process as a pitcher. On Tuesday afternoon, he threw 44 pitches in three simulated innings at Petco Park. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has indicated that there is “more than zero” chance that Ohtani will join the team’s rotation before the All-Star break. At this moment, it seems more likely that Ohtani will return as a pitcher in July, instead of August, which previously seemed to be the most logical target. One of the main reasons is the impression that Ohtani’s control has made, despite his almost two-year absence as a pitcher. In addition, the extra space in the roster that this provides them is added. Ohtani has the designation of “two-way player”, which, according to a rule established by Major League Baseball in 2019, allows him to pitch without counting towards a team’s 13-pitcher limit. As the 14th pitcher, the Dodgers have the luxury of bringing Ohtani back before he is fully prepared as a traditional starter. In other words, they can initially have Ohtani make two-to-three-inning starts and have another pitcher ready to serve as a relief starter.Roberts added that Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed Ohtani’s second ulnar collateral ligament repair in September 2023, and the Dodgers’ athletic training staff will continue to set the pace for his recovery. The team will continue to adjust as needed, as it did by delaying Ohtani’s latest session by a day due to him hitting a ball with his foot in St. Louis on Sunday. Another important factor is the situation of the Dodgers’ pitchers. Currently, there are fourteen players on the injured list, including four starters who were expected to be key in 2025: Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki and, more recently, Tony Gonsolin. Snell and Glasnow threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, but both still need to recover. Ohtani began his throwing progression last year, as he became the first full-time designated hitter to win an MVP, then essentially stopped it for the postseason. The Dodgers’ hopes that Ohtani would restart his throwing progression relatively early in the winter faded when he tore a labrum in his left shoulder during Game 2 of the World Series, requiring offseason surgery. Spring training essentially qualified as Ohtani’s offseason throwing program. He then stopped it before the March 18 opening game in Japan and resumed it when the Dodgers returned to the United States. Ohtani faced batters for the first time at Citi Field on May 25, throwing 22 pitches. Six days later, he threw 29. Ten days later, he increased his production to 44. Ohtani struck out six batters, walked one, and allowed a ground ball up the middle that would likely have been a single while facing a pair of Dodgers minor leaguers. Ohtani, 30, also went through specific game elements, such as pitching from the stretch, incorporating a slide step, and using the pitch clock. Roberts said his fastball “had life” and his sweeper was “really good”. Ohtani will continue to participate in simulated games every week or so, with a light bullpen session in between, until the Dodgers determine he is ready to join their rotation. Roberts commented: “I am looking forward to the next one.”“Certainly, it doesn’t have to be a complete construction,” Roberts said, “because anything it can give us is certainly an addition.”
Dave Roberts
