Ohtani Making Progress, But Dodgers Exercise Caution

The Dodgers aren’t rushing things with Shohei Ohtani despite his steady approach toward a return to the Major League mound.

Ohtani recently participated in his third simulated game at Petco Park after undergoing elbow surgery in 2023.

Even though this marks an important milestone, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts urged fans not to get overly excited. He mentioned the possibility of Ohtani pitching before the All-Star Break but added a note of caution while speaking to the media.

“It’s attractive,” Roberts remarked. “I’m sure Shohei is eager to get back into big league games, but we’re really taking a patient approach here.”

In this latest session, the Japanese right-hander threw 44 pitches over three innings. His fastball was clocked in the mid-’90s, according to pitching coach Mark Pryor.

By the end of the outing, Ohtani recorded six strikeouts.

“Once you start getting closer to 44, you can imagine moving into the 60 or 70 pitch range before thinking about joining the game,” he noted during the press briefing. “That way, he’d have enough volume under his belt.”

This latest outing reflects a significant increase in his pitch count, up from just 29 in his previous simulation game.

Roberts has made it clear he won’t rush the star back onto the mound.

“It certainly doesn’t have to be a complete accumulation,” Roberts told the press. “Whatever he can contribute is definitely a plus.”

However, the Dodgers may need to reconsider their timeline for Ohtani due to issues within their pitching staff. They’ve struggled to keep their starters healthy this season, with eight pitchers currently on the injured list. As a result, Los Angeles has only managed to record 316 innings, ranking among the lowest in MLB.

Injuries have also sidelined key players like Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki.

On a positive note, Snell recently completed his first bullpen session since his April injury, and Glasnow has now held his third session. Sasaki is continuing to pitch and catch.

If the Dodgers manage to get their starting rotation back to full strength, adding a healthy Ohtani into the mix could significantly alter their prospects for the remainder of the season.