Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Unlikely to Pitch Until After All-Star Break, Says Dave Roberts
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has continued to throw his regularly scheduled bullpens as the season continues. The next step in the throwing progression is for Ohtani to face live hitters, but manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that is “a ways away.”
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Ohtani likely won’t make his pitching debut this season until after the All-Star break, according to Roberts. While the reigning NL MVP won’t be taking the mound for the Dodgers anytime soon, that is not to say Ohtani has not made significant strides.
In last Saturday’s bullpen session, Ohtani touched 95 mph in his 35-pitch outing. He has yet to throw his full arsenal, but the velocity is a sign of good things to come.
“From what I hear, he was ramping it up a little bit more with the velocity,” Roberts said. “Just from talking to the trainers I think that’s a good sign, that there’s a little bit more intensity going on there.”
The Dodgers have remained non-committal on Ohtani’s timetable to return, but as the rotation dwindles, the superstar’s two-way status seems almost necessary at this point.
“It’s going to be a week by week [process],” general manager Brandon Gomes said. “We have a general sense, we’ve got to make sure that he’s feeling good and we’re being smart so we can’t lose the offensive side of it as well. … In a lot of these rehabs, you kind of set a date and work backward. I think on this one, you’re moving forward, because it’s a one-of-one type thing.”
The Dodgers have said time and time again that the priority is for Ohtani to pitch in the postseason. While that idea appears to remain the same, the Dodgers bullpen currently leads the league in innings while starters have given the second-fewest innings out of any rotation.
In order for the Dodgers to avoid overworking the bullpen, L.A. starting pitchers will have to handle more of the workload, which is why Ohtani’s return can’t come soon enough.
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Photo Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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They need Ohtani in the rotation now, not after the AS break. An overworked bullpen and 4 starters is not going to cut it long term. They also need Tommy and Teoscar back ASAP. Snell and Glasnow have been a total bust. I simply do not understand why this team leads the league every year in pitcher injuries.
Agree about the never-ending pitching injury concerns, but don’t agree about having Ohtani pitch now. Pitching him before he’s ready jeopardizes further injury and may adversely affect his career. They need him to be a healthy two way player to justify the $70M per investment, not just a DH. They have evidence of bringing someone his age back from a second TJ surgery: Walker Buehler. They need to learn from that. And on that note, should have kept Buehler, who wanted to stay here. Bad move. And yes, I realize he’s currently out with Boston due to shoulder soreness, but hopefully that is not long term.
Ohtani, Kershaw, Snell, Glasnow, Phillips, Treinen all out. Edman and Hernandez, too. Conforto, Muncy, Taylor struggling. Annd the Dodgers still have the best record in the league. It’s scary and I’d like to see them back at full strength.