The Dodgers are off to a strong 26–14 start this season, sitting in a virtual tie atop the NL West with the Padres. But despite their success, injuries to the starting rotation remain a concern—none more closely watched than the status of Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani, who signed a $700 million deal with the Dodgers last offseason, has yet to pitch for the team. While he’s been a constant presence as a designated hitter—winning the 2024 MVP and helping lead the Dodgers to a World Series title—his return to the mound has been a slower process.
He last pitched on August 23, 2023, with the Angels, before undergoing elbow surgery the following month. It’s now been roughly 20 months since that operation.
On Saturday, Ohtani took a step forward in his rehab, throwing around 35 pitches that included four-seam fastballs, two-seamers, and splitters. He also paused midway through to simulate the break between innings.
“It’s significant because it sort of simulates an up-down inning,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “To see how he comes out of it after taking, call it, five-to-seven minutes of rest, and to see how he responds.”
Ohtani has not yet faced hitters, and there’s no firm timeline for his return to game action. The next steps include mixing in breaking pitches and eventually progressing to a simulated game. Only after completing those phases would he be cleared to pitch in a live game.
Rehabbing Ohtani presents unique challenges. Because he remains a vital part of the Dodgers’ lineup as a hitter, he cannot be sent on a traditional minor-league rehab assignment. He played in 159 games during the 2024 regular season, started the All-Star Game, and appeared in all 16 postseason contests.
During that stretch, he also sustained a left shoulder injury—on his non-throwing side—which required offseason surgery. That injury and the physical toll of his workload likely contributed to the delays in his pitching recovery.
While there has been no reported setback involving his surgically repaired elbow, the complexity of Ohtani’s situation has made this one of the more prolonged pitching rehabs in recent memory. The Dodgers continue to be cautious.
Meanwhile, the rotation remains banged up. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Clayton Kershaw are all on the injured list, along with four other starting pitchers. Roki Sasaki has struggled, and while Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin recently returned from long absences due to arm surgeries, their durability remains uncertain. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been a bright spot, anchoring the staff with impressive performances.
Despite the injuries, the Dodgers remain World Series favorites. Their lineup depth and pitching reinforcements have helped them stay on track, but getting Ohtani back on the mound would be a major boost.
How the Dodgers manage his pitching progression while keeping him productive at the plate remains one of the biggest storylines of the season—and could be key to another postseason run.
Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
