Shohei Ohtani Played Role in Decision to Pause Pitching Progression for Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani was expected to make his pitching debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers sometime in May or earlier, per Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ comments earlier this offseason.
However, Thursday, Roberts said the organization does not know when Ohtani will pitch. Ohtani and the Dodgers agreed to slow down his pitching program and do not have a timeline for when he will throw another bullpen.
“It actually kind of came about through conversation with Shohei, our training staff, the doctors,” Roberts said. “So all of it kind of was all synced up.”
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Ohtani has logged 12 at-bats across four spring training games in 2025. Roberts said the organization thought it was not smart to increase Ohtani’s pitching progression simulateounsly with his workload as the Dodgers’ designated hitter.
As a result of the joint decision to delay Ohtani’s pitching program, the four-time All-Star has not thrown a bullpen since Feb. 25.
Roberts did not give a timeline for when fans can expect to see Ohtani pitch this season.
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Although fans eagerly await the return of the unanimous 2024 NL Most Valuable Player to the mound, the Dodgers will not rush the process.
The Dodgers’ schedule allows them to start the season with a five-man rotation, meaning Ohtani’s services are not a dire need. Los Angeles also has Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow to hold down the fort without Ohtani.
Ohtani will continue to serve as a designated hitter for the Dodgers until he is able to pitch. Despite struggling to get back on the mound, Ohtani’s offense still looks as promising at it was last season.
So far in spring training, Ohtani has slashed .417/.417/.750. He also launched an opposite field home run off All-Star pitcher Yusei Kikuchi in his first Cactus League at-bat of 2025.
Ohtani underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum after the Dodgers’ World Series victory. But the home run in his first at-bat of 2025 suggests Ohtani is recovering just fine after the operation.
Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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