Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is set to make his highly anticipated return to the mound next week.
MLB.com reported on Monday that Ohtani has entered the final stages of his pitching comeback, seven weeks after his last start.
On August 23, Ohtani faced live batters before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking his first live pitching session in 50 days.
Despite an outstanding first half as a pitcher, Ohtani has been sidelined since July 4 due to persistent pain in his left knee, following a game against the San Diego Padres.
After undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, Ohtani has been ramping up his return by focusing on bullpen sessions. He’s now progressed to live pitching, the final step before game action. This season, Ohtani has been dominant on the mound, boasting an 8-2 record with a stellar 1.79 earned run average (ERA) in 14 starts.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted at Ohtani’s imminent return, stating that if it were up to Shohei, he’d be back in games within days.
Ohtani is scheduled for additional bullpen sessions during the team’s three-game road series against the Atlanta Braves, starting August 26. MLB.com suggests that if these sessions go well, Ohtani may not require further live pitching before rejoining the rotation.
Barring any setbacks, Ohtani is likely to make his return start during the Dodgers’ homestand from September 2-10. The team is set for a nine-game stretch at Dodger Stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds.
MLB.com speculates that if Ohtani doesn’t need additional bullpen work, he could pitch early in the homestand. However, if he requires more prep, his start would likely come later in the series.