The Los Angeles Dodgers have preached patience with Shohei Ohtani’s pitching return since the day they signed him. Coming off his second Tommy John surgery, the reigning NL MVP has dazzled at the plate but has yet to take the mound in Dodger Blue.
But that plan may be shifting.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Dodgers are beginning to rethink their approach:
“The Dodgers are encouraged, and awfully tempted, but aren’t planning to use Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher until after the All-Star break,” Nightengale reported.
That last part—“awfully tempted”—could prove telling.
Ohtani has been ramping up quickly in recent weeks, progressing from light bullpen sessions to live batting practice, and now, full simulated games. On Tuesday, he threw 44 pitches across three simulated innings at Petco Park, striking out six, touching the mid-90s with his fastball, and using a PitchCom device to call his own pitches.
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“He was doing whatever he wanted with the baseball,” pitching coach Mark Prior said. “There wasn’t much to critique—he was in full command.”
The performance was easily his most impressive on the mound since surgery last September, and it’s forcing the Dodgers to at least consider the possibility that he could pitch in a big-league game before the All-Star break—something they’ve consistently ruled out until now.
Manager Dave Roberts didn’t deny the idea either.
“I still stand by him and Dr. (Neal) ElAttrache and the training staff driving this,” Roberts said. “But I’m anxious for the next one.” Asked directly about whether Ohtani could pitch before mid-July, Roberts admitted the odds were “north of zero.”
That’s a stark shift from the conservative tone the organization has maintained for months.
Even without pitching, Ohtani has continued to be one of the most dominant hitters in baseball. He’s coming off a two-homer, three-run performance against the Giants, bringing him to 25 home runs and 41 RBIs on the year. His .985 OPS leads the National League, and he remains a constant threat on the bases.
But while the bat has been there, the Dodgers’ rotation depth has not.
The team has dealt with a barrage of injuries to its arms—eight of their 14 current IL pitchers are starters. That includes Ohtani, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki, who have combined to make just 15 starts this year.
The urgency is building.
Tuesday marked a big day for the Dodgers’ pitching outlook. Snell threw his first bullpen since April and reported no shoulder pain, calling the session his first pain-free throwing in weeks. Glasnow also threw, showing his usual velocity, while Sasaki continues to progress more slowly.
Still, Ohtani’s progress—and Nightengale’s quote—are what move the needle.
If the Dodgers decide to fast-track his return, Ohtani wouldn’t need a full five-inning build-up to make a difference. His two-way status also allows L.A. to effectively add a pitcher without subtracting a roster spot. Even in shorter stints, his presence on the mound could be a major boost for a staff currently stretched thin.
“There’s definitely temptation,” Roberts said. “But we’re doing a good job of being patient. Truth is, no one knows what the perfect time is.”
Ohtani’s next simulated outing will be key. If he can stretch toward the 60- or 70-pitch range, the Dodgers may not be able to resist any longer.
And given how fast he’s trending, “after the All-Star break” might soon turn into “sooner than anyone expected.”