Dodgers Have No Timeline for Shohei Ohtani’s Return to Pitching

The Los Angeles Dodgers have no set timetable for Shohei Ohtani to pitch again this season, leaving open the possibility that the two-way star could be limited to batting duties for the remainder of the year. Manager Dave Roberts noted that while Ohtani reports feeling physically well, the team needs further bullpen evaluations before making a decision.

Uncertainty surrounds pitching return

Ohtani has been sidelined from pitching since July 3 due to persistent pain in his left knee and right biceps. He threw a 20-pitch bullpen session on a Friday, but the Dodgers scratched him from a prospective starting appearance in Detroit two days later.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Roberts offered a positive assessment of Ohtani’s general physical state. “I think physically he’s in a good spot,” Roberts said, adding that Ohtani has informed the training staff that he feels good. However, Roberts said he must see Ohtani throw another bullpen session before determining the next step in his recovery. When asked if Ohtani might not pitch again this season, Roberts acknowledged, “It’s an option.”

Balancing workload and hitting production

Before being removed from the rotation, Ohtani posted an 8-2 record with a 1.79 earned run average across 14 starts. While his pitching performance has been dominant, the Dodgers are cautious about how pitching through discomfort might impact his hitting as the designated hitter.

Roberts noted that pitching at less than full health could compromise Ohtani’s overall output, stating that “there’s possibly some bleed-in to the performance offensively.” Although any innings Ohtani provides would benefit the club, Roberts emphasized that health remains the primary concern, noting there is “no timeline, definitive deadline” to make a final call.

Alternative roles and rules

Should Ohtani be unable to return as a starting pitcher, alternative possibilities include using him as a relief pitcher out of the bullpen or placing him in the outfield. Ohtani has not appeared as an outfielder in Major League Baseball since 2021, when he played seven outfield games for the Los Angeles Angels.

Using Ohtani in different roles carries tactical implications under league rules. If a team starts Ohtani as a designated hitter and later moves him to the mound, Major League Baseball’s so-called Ohtani Rule forces the team to give up its designated hitter for the remainder of the game. However, if he starts on the mound and transitions to an outfield position, he is permitted to remain in the batting order.

Background

Shohei Ohtani is a rare two-way player in Major League Baseball, achieving elite success both as a starting pitcher and a designated hitter. After playing six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers. MLB enacted specific roster rules—popularly known as the “Ohtani Rule”—to accommodate two-way players, allowing a starting pitcher who also hits to remain in the lineup as a designated hitter after being replaced on the mound.