LOS ANGELES -- With the Tokyo Series now in the rearview, Shohei Ohtani is set to take another step in his ongoing right elbow rehab.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Monday that Ohtani will be throwing a bullpen session on Saturday, his first since Feb. 25. The Dodgers previously slowed down the pitching side of his recovery to focus on his hitting during Spring Training. He has continued to play catch in the meantime.
And while Roberts has hinted at May as a possible window for Ohtani¡¯s return to game action on the mound, the manager said on Monday that he¡¯ll have a better idea of a plan once Ohtani throws on Saturday. Roberts added that he¡¯s approaching Ohtani¡¯s rehab with the mindset of having him available late in the season, a time when the Dodgers¡¯ pitching staff has been decimated in recent years.
¡°This is a long-term play for Shohei¡¯s well-being also,¡± Roberts said. ¡°So making sure that we're as cautious and careful as we possibly can [be]. And, yeah, for 2025, the most important piece of this is having him be able to do both through the end of the season, through October.¡±
Ohtani hasn¡¯t pitched in a Major League game since Aug. 23, 2023. He had his second major right elbow surgery in September 2023.
Ohtani began playing catch late last season, but a torn left labrum suffered in Game 2 of the World Series pushed his rehab back as he also worked to return as the Dodgers¡¯ DH.
Roberts acknowledged that this could be seen as essentially starting anew on the pitching side of things for the two-way superstar.
¡°Given what he¡¯s gone through, keeping his arm going, I think that's kind of fair,¡± Roberts said. ¡°But I don't know what that looks like as far as leadership. I'm not going to try to prognosticate, but I think that it's a fair take.¡±
So while an exact return date remains elusive, ramping up does seem like it could be in the works soon. And in a perfect world, Roberts would love it if he can get at least 18-20 starts out of his three-time MVP and four-time All-Star.
¡°We would bank that right now,¡± said Roberts.