Even while playing only one side of the ball, Shohei Ohtani remains one of the most dominant players in baseball. The reigning National League MVP continues to recover from Tommy John surgery and has yet to return to the mound in 2025 — but it hasn’t slowed him down at the plate.
In fact, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in no rush to accelerate his pitching timeline, largely because they don’t have to. With one of the deepest starting rotations in MLB, Los Angeles has the luxury of taking its time. While the original plan was for Ohtani to resume pitching earlier in the season, that timeline has shifted.
When Will The Los Angeles Dodgers See Shohei Ohtani On The Mound?
“The Dodgers are holding back Shohei Ohtani from pitching until after the All-Star break,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported, “believing there’s no sense in hurrying him to the mound while he continues to put up MVP numbers at the plate.”
That logic is hard to argue with.
Ohtani is once again producing offensively at an elite level. Through 38 games, he’s slashing over .300 with 12 home runs, 20 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases — a balanced, five-tool performance that’s keeping him firmly in the MVP conversation. Though he’s not quite on pace with last year’s historic campaign, in which he became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, his impact is undeniable.
That 2024 performance not only earned him MVP honors but also helped the Dodgers win the World Series over the Yankees, despite Ohtani injuring his shoulder during the playoffs.
For now, the Dodgers are content to let their $700 million superstar focus on hitting. But the thought of adding a fully healthy Ohtani to a rotation that already features Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, and others is a terrifying prospect for opponents.
If Ohtani returns to the mound after the All-Star break and is anywhere near his previous pitching form, it could tilt the balance of power even further in L.A.’s favor come October.