Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching Looks ‘Really, Really Good’, Says Dodgers Teammate

The Los Angeles Dodgers have brought in a number of stars this winter and likely aren’t finished doing so. But one of the most exciting storylines for the 2025 season will be Shohei Ohtani’s two-way debut in a Dodgers uniform.

In a conversation with Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain, starting pitcher Landon Knack shared an update on Ohtani’s progress.

“You can tell he’s in a really good spot,” Knack said of his superstar teammate. “Being able to watch some of his bullpens as he was coming back was looking really, really good. I mean, obviously we’ve seen the stuff that he has. I mean, he has probably some of the best stuff in all of baseball. And so, I’m excited to kind of see when he gets back, be able to see him get back to his top form because I know from everything I’ve watched like he rehabs and works harder than about anybody I’ve ever seen and so I’m excited to see him get back to it.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it is unlikely Ohtani will pitch in the Tokyo series against the Chicago Cubs to open the season, but he is expected to be in the lineup as the team’s designated hitter.

Ohtani will take the mound in 2025, but it remains unclear when that will be. The Dodgers are going to be cautious about Ohtani’s workload overall.

“I don’t think the left shoulder is gonna have much of an impact on Shohei’s pitching,” Roberts said at the Winter Meetings in Dallas. “I think his right elbow is the biggest factor. I just think the question is when he starts pitching in major league games and how we ramp him up prior to it.”

Ohtani underwent surgery shortly after the World Series to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The Dodgers superstar won his first World Series in 2024, but fans are eager to witness Ohtani make his two-way debut in 2025.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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