Dodgers share next steps for Ohtani's return to the mound

CHICAGO -- The timeline for Shohei Ohtani’s return to pitch remains unclear, but just days after the birth of his first child, the Japanese superstar is already back to work and continuing his progression on the mound.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not know Tuesday if Ohtani threw while he was on the paternity list over the weekend, but he said that the brief break didn’t change the 30-year-old’s throwing progression.

Ohtani played catch ahead of the team’s series opener against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Following that, Roberts said, the next step will be Ohtani throwing a light bullpen Wednesday before coming back for a “full-blown” bullpen Saturday.

“I still don't know what the next step is [beyond bullpens],” Roberts said, “and I think once he starts facing hitters, then it'll start to become more pronounced. But right now, he's still in the mode of just throwing bullpens. He still hasn't thrown sliders yet, either.”

Ohtani had previously thrown around 30 pitches in a bullpen session on April 12, which followed bullpens on April 5 (26 pitches) and March 29 (20 pitches). He underwent a right ulnar collateral ligament repair procedure in September 2023 and arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder on Nov. 6.

Considering how important Ohtani is to the team even when he is not pitching, Los Angeles is not rushing the process of his return. That in itself, in some eyes, could make bringing him back as a pitcher a risk not worth taking -- but Roberts doesn’t see it that way.

“[Ohtani is] a guy that has done it, has performed really well as a pitcher, [has] the desire to do that [and] the talent to do that, and you essentially get two All-Star players in one,” Roberts said. “So there's a lot of upside, but I certainly understand people's opinions.”