Despite dour predictions from some insiders, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani might be back in action for the Boys in Blue sooner rather than later.
Ohtani hit off a tee on Tuesday in his bid to return from knee, arm and neck pain, issues that led to a very uncharacteristic slump in the weeks before he was placed on the injured list.
Having already been shut down as a pitcher, Ohtani has also been sidelined as a hitter, though that may not be for too much longer.
Dave Roberts shares expectations for Ohtani’s return
On Tuesday, manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani “felt good” after hitting off the tee.
“I don’t know what’s in store for tomorrow, but I know there’s going to be a consistent buildup. Don’t know when the time of return to play is, but today was positive and hopefully, we can just keep building towards that,” he said.
When asked if he expects Ohtani back during the regular season, Roberts answered with a definitive “I do.”
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“Whether it happens or not is to be determined, but I do expect him to be back to play in some regular season games,” he said. “Don’t know how many though.”
Roberts’ prediction flies in the face of at least one Dodgers insider, who predicted that the Japanese superstar was out for the rest of 2026.
The saga has also raised questions about whether Ohtani was honest with the team about his injuries, and whether the team perhaps mismanaged their superstar.
Many of those questions will only be answered with time, though if Ohtani does indeed come back this year and looks more like his old self, the criticism will likely be much quieter.
What would Shohei Ohtani’s return mean for the Dodgers?
While Ohtani’s absence hasn’t impacted the Dodgers too much this month, that could be because the Boys in Blue have one of the easier September scheduled in the National League.
In October, though, the playoffs are on, and the quality of opponent will be much higher.
Some of those likely opponents, such as the Atlanta Braves, have recently given the Dodgers fits, and a healthier Ohtani returning to the batting order would almost assuredly improve the Dodgers’ chances of winning a third straight World Series.
Ohtani’s replacement, the much-hyped prospect Josue De Paula, has flashed moments of brilliance in his first few games in the big leagues, but getting back perhaps the best baseball player ever would be a huge boost for the Dodgers, especially from a mental perspective.
Do you think Shohei Ohtani will be back this year and, if so, will it be before the playoffs begin?
