The Los Angeles Dodgers anticipate Shohei Ohtani making a return to pitching during the 2025 season, but when that will come remains unclear.
Ohtani began throwing bullpen sessions during Spring Training before being limited to playing catch on flat ground as he faced an increase in intensity with preparing to be in the Dodgers lineup for the Tokyo Series.
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Although that sparked some concern, the reigning National League MVP assured that had long been planned as the Dodgers neared the start of their season. The expectation was Ohtani would start up the process of building toward pitching this year once the team returned from Japan.
Ohtani resumed his pitching progression over the weekend with a bullpen session that was an estimated 25 pitches.
“It was good,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It was all fastballs; fastball, two-seamer. He felt really good coming out of it.”
Ohtani’s bullpen sessions during Spring Training each were limited to only fastballs. Another constant from four bullpens that were held at Camelback Ranch and his latest at Dodger Stadium was continuing to pitch out of the windup.
It’s a change Ohtani is expected to utilize upon making his Dodgers pitching debut.
“That’s something he was looking to do. Like he mentioned, he’s always trying to get better. He wanted to feel some energy. It wasn’t something I necessarily brought to the table. It was something he did,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior recently explained.
“I like it. I always like guys in deliveries. Sometimes you move guys to stretch only just to simplify things, but I like when guys have some athleticism and some rhythm in their delivery. I think it helps their timing. So I think that’s what he’s messing around with right now.”
Shohei Ohtani’s bullpen sessions
The next step for Ohtani are more bullpen sessions before progressing to facing hitters in live batting practice, which will be a first since having a second career right elbow surgery in September 2023.
“He’s going to throw a light bullpen [Wednesday] and then he’ll throw a heavier bullpen on Saturday,” Roberts said. “And then we’ll go from there. There’s still many bullpens to come.
“We don’t have it targeted it when he’s going to face hitters. We’re not there yet.”
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