The Los Angeles Dodgers had agreed to a record-breaking sum of money to sign Shohei Ohtani in order to utilize his extraordinary abilities as a two-way player. Although the Japanese superstar has mesmerized the Dodgers fans with his bat, he has yet to take the mound for the team in a competitive situation.
Ohtani has not pitched in a major league contest since August 2023, when he was still playing in a Los Angeles Angels uniform. The three-time MVP underwent a second elbow reconstruction surgery to repair a torn UCL in the offseason, which prohibited him from taking up any pitching duties during the 2024 campaign.
Mark Prior Feels Shohei Ohtani Could Pitch for the Dodgers Next Month
The Dodgers moved one step closer towards bringing Ohtani into their starting rotation after he incorporated curveballs and sliders in the bullpen for the first time. His rehab process has been focused on scheduled throwing sessions since spring training, but his arsenal was limited to just fastballs and splitters up till now.
Mark Prior, the pitching coach for the Dodgers, confirmed that Ohtani has increased the intensity of his bullpen sessions lately and could return to an MLB mound by the end of next month. Prior feels the rehab process has been uncertain due to the uniqueness of the player, so his return is subject to the toll his body takes as the DH of the team.
“With Sho, he’s unique. So, it’s kind of an outlier situation,” Prior said on the Dodgers Territory podcast. “There are days when he goes 4-4, and he’s running around on the basepaths. He comes in the next day, and he’s feeling tired and exhausted. So, the throwing volume needs to be cut short or tweaked to manage that.”
“It’s been an ongoing learning process for everybody involved. But he is getting closer. In his last couple of bullpens, he has really ramped up the intensity in all of his pitches. So, I think we’re getting close to where he can start facing some hitters, whether that’s in the next couple of weeks or at the latter part of June.”
“I don’t think that’s unreasonable, but honestly, things are always a bit TBD just because of what he does on the offensive side of the ball and what the stress of that takes on his body at times.”
Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior suggests it's not unreasonable to assume Shohei Ohtani could be facing hitters in June. 👀 pic.twitter.com/DqDlFtDwQ5
— Dodgers Territory (@LADTerritory) May 23, 2025
Despite the latest progression in his rehab, the Dodgers will not be rushing Ohtani back to the mound even though they desperately need some help with their starting rotation, says Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times.
“As encouraged as the team is with his progress and as desperate as the Dodgers are for one of their sidelined frontline starters to return, they will continue to slow-play Ohtani’s return to the mound, according to a person familiar with the team’s thinking but not authorized to speak publicly,” Hernandez wrote.
“The Dodgers could use Ohtani’s arm, but they absolutely need his bat, and they don’t plan on jeopardizing his offense by exposing him to any unnecessary risks on the mound. This isn’t to say Ohtani’s pitching comeback should be expedited,” he added. “Before they unleash Ohtani the pitcher, they have to protect Ohtani the hitter.”
Ohtani has made a red-hot start to the 2025 campaign after his incredible 50-50 season for the Dodgers last year. He is currently batting .304/.398/.655 with an OPS+ of 194, while he jointly leads the MLB with 17 home runs.
