Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles (LA) Dodgers is making steady progress in his return to the mound.
MLB.com reported on Friday that Ohtani recently completed catch play and mimicked his pitching motion on the bullpen mound at Dodger Stadium, indicating he may soon return to live action.
Over the weekend, Ohtani ramped up his pitching regimen, including long toss sessions beyond 61 meters. While he’s inching closer to throwing off the mound, an exact return date remains undetermined.
Ohtani, who excelled on the mound in the first half, hasn’t pitched since July 4 against the San Diego Padres due to persistent left knee pain.
After receiving knee treatment, he attempted a bullpen session but had to pause throwing again when his condition didn’t improve. Both the Dodgers and Ohtani are taking a cautious approach to his pitching comeback.
It wants to make sure he’s moving in the right direction rather than rushing, Ohtani said. It’s crucial to confirm it’s taking the proper steps.
With Ohtani temporarily out of the rotation, the Dodgers have bolstered their pitching staff, acquiring Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal via trade. They’ve also welcomed back Blake Snell from injury, with Tyler Glasnow nearing his return as well.
MLB.com notes that while the urgency for Ohtani’s mound return has somewhat lessened, the Dodgers believe they’ll be at their strongest when he’s back in full form, contributing as both a pitcher and hitter.
The outlet projects a September return to pitching for Ohtani as realistic. This timeline would allow him to gradually build up his workload over two or three starts, similar to last year’s approach.
Even upon his return, local media suggest Ohtani might serve as an opener in the postseason, handling limited innings due to the shortened preparation time.
MLB.com reports that the Dodgers believe any innings Ohtani can provide at his pre-injury level will significantly boost the team’s pitching depth.
