Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Recovery Timeline From Torn Labrum Discussed by Orthopedic Doctor
After undergoing surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani could face a lengthy recovery timeline.
Read more: Shohei Ohtani Underwent Major Surgery on Tuesday, Dodgers Announce
The Dodgers say Ohtani is expected to be ready for spring training in February.
Dodgers Nation reached out to award-winning orthopedic surgeon Rob Landsberg of Hendersonville, Tenn., to find out what kind of recovery timeline is in store for Ohtani.
“Everyone does it a little bit differently, particularly in a professional baseball player,” Landsberg said via text message. “I also don’t know exactly what type of labral repair he did. It was probably a Bankart repair, which is done for a dislocating shoulder. However, it could be more of the labrum and that would change the recovery.”
A Bankart Shoulder Repair is a surgical procedure designed to address recurrent shoulder dislocations. During the procedure, damaged ligaments are reattached to their proper position in the shoulder joint, to restore normal function, according to St. George Surgical Center.
It’s still uncertain whether the surgery will impact Ohtani’s intended return to pitching in 2025. The right-hander underwent elbow surgery last offseason, which sidelined him from the mound in 2024.
How Long Does it Take to Recover From a Torn Labrum?
With the Dodgers saying they expect Ohtani to return in time for spring training, it triggered another question for Landsberg — how long is the recovery?
“It depends on his repair and whether they can accelerate his recovery with an early range of motion,” Landsberg said. “It is usually a sling for six weeks. Then range of motion and then eventually strengthening. However, he could be doing a totally different depending on what he found when he was in there.”
If Ohtani underwent the Bankart procedure, spring training would be realistic and he would be healthy enough to swing a bat.
“They will start working on early range of motion to hopefully have a full range of motion within four-to-six weeks. Typically it is a four-to-six-month recovery, but some people extend it to nine-to-12 months depending on the situation, the patient, the type of tear, and the type of repair.
“If he is just batting and batting left, then maybe they will let him do it. Four months sounds pretty fast. However, he was in there and saw the type of tear and type of repair.”
But what about pitching? Would Ohtani be healthy enough to pitch when he reports to Camelback Ranch?
“I would think he would be able to pitch,” Landsberg said. “That Abbott kid pitched with only one arm.”
Ohtani played with the torn labrum in Games 3, 4, and 5 of the World Series.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
