After having elbow surgery in September 2023, the Los Angeles Dodgers are being cautious whenever Shohei Ohtani returns to the pitch.

In order to focus on Ohtani’s job as a designated hitter (DH) for the forthcoming season, manager Dave Roberts declared that the team is “slow-playing” his pitching rehab.  

Background

In late 2023, Ohtani, who is known for his exceptional dual-role play, had surgery to repair a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right arm.

Even though he hasn’t pitched in an MLB game since August 2023, he has kept up his offensive contributions, winning the 2024 National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) award just for his hitting skills.  

Current Status

Ohtani has not participated in a bullpen session as of February 25, 2025, but he still does short throwing drills to keep his arms strong. He will only face live hitters once the Dodgers return from their season-opening series against the Chicago Cubs in Japan on March 18–19.

Mark Prior, the pitching coach, stressed the significance of controlling Ohtani’s overall workload, especially as he steps up his DH roles. As stated by Prior, “There’s a little bit of a shift towards making sure he’s dialed in, ready to go, from a DH standpoint.”

Team’s Perspective

The Dodgers’ choice is a calculated move to protect Ohtani’s long-term well-being and productivity. The team has a strong rotation of pitchers, including Clayton Kershaw, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, so they can afford to wait for Ohtani to return to the mound.  

Looking Ahead

The Dodgers are hopeful that Ohtani will eventually contribute as a two-way player, even if no timetable has been assigned for his return to the game.

As he continues to be the team’s DH in the interim, fans may anticipate his attacking skills.