We have a little more clarity as to when Shohei Ohtani will pitch this season.

During DodgerFest on Saturday, manager Dave Roberts indicated that a return to the mound in May for Ohtani ¡°sounds about right.¡±

Ohtani, who didn¡¯t pitch at all during his first season with the Dodgers as he recovered from a 2023 procedure on his right elbow, is still working his way back from undergoing left shoulder surgery in November. The three-time MVP began his offseason throwing program in December, and Roberts said then that it was ¡°very unlikely¡± that Ohtani would pitch during the team¡¯s season-opening series against the Cubs in Japan.

¡°With [the Dodgers] going into the postseason, I didn¡¯t really have a significant time to relax,¡± Ohtani said via team interpreter Will Ireton. ¡°I¡¯ve just felt like this offseason was the busiest offseason by far. It literally feels like we just won [the World Series] and we¡¯re back in.¡±

The Dodgers will employ a six-man rotation this year and have plenty of options who can take the ball while Ohtani gets back to full strength. That includes countryman Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old phenom whom the Dodgers signed last month. Ohtani played a role in bringing Sasaki to Los Angeles, and he divulged some insight into what he told Sasaki during the recruitment process.

¡°I told him that this organization is top-notch, from the players to the staff and to the fans,¡± Ohtani said. ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to being able to support him as he enters his first Spring Training.¡±