Ohtani Takes a Step Toward Recovery
PHILADELPHIA — There’s still no definitive timeline for when Shohei Ohtani will be back in the Dodgers’ pitching rotation.
However, he did make some progress Wednesday by participating in a bullpen session before the game.
Before the Dodgers faced the Phillies in the final game of their series—originally, Ohtani was set to pitch, but the team decided to rest him due to a lingering knee issue—he engaged in long toss in the outfield at Citizens Bank Park. He then threw 31 pitches in the bullpen, employing a full range of pitches.
This marked the first time in two weeks that Ohtani threw from the mound, and it was also his first bullpen session since getting a lubricant injection during the All-Star break.
“This is a significant sign,” remarked manager Dave Roberts.
Pitching coach Mark Pryor added, “It went well.”
Both former pitching coach Connor McGuinness and Pryor characterized the session as typical for Ohtani, similar to what he would do during the regular rotation.
Pryor noted that Wednesday’s session was pre-planned, and they would monitor Ohtani’s condition over the next few days before making decisions about his next steps in pitching.
“The plan was to assess how he felt in three or four days. If all went well, he was set to pitch in the bullpen today,” Pryor said.
Despite the progress, the Dodgers aren’t rushing Ohtani back onto the mound. He last pitched on July 3, when he was meant to finish out the first half of the season but had to be cautious due to his knee discomfort.
Since mid-June, he has been dealing with knee inflammation, which he previously had surgery for in 2019, addressing a congenital issue. His knee flared up for the first time after a start in Pittsburgh.
Ohtani has suggested that a mechanical flaw might have caused this issue, putting extra stress on his landing leg. Roberts also attributed it to the natural wear and tear of his full-time role as a two-way player this season.
After the bullpen session, Roberts didn’t indicate when Ohtani could rejoin the rotation, only mentioning that it wouldn’t be during their current road trip, which wraps up with the weekend series against the Mets.
“Once I connect with Mark and the training staff, that information will be crucial,” Roberts said.
Ohtani’s recent strides suggest his time away from the rotation might be a few weeks at most, rather than an extended absence that would require him to completely rebuild his on-mound stamina.
“I don’t think the work he’s put in has been overly compromised,” Roberts said, adding, “But, I don’t expect him to go out there and throw 100 pitches right away.”
Ohtani’s performance before the injury saw him post a 4.38 ERA in the last four games, a significant drop compared to his previous 0.74 ERA this season.
The Dodgers are currently trying to pinpoint how much of this was attributed to the knee issues versus other pitching flaws, aiming to help Ohtani make a full return.
“The way he spoke was a bit wild, and I think that affected some things,” said Pryor. “Ultimately, when he executes his pitches correctly, he’s far more effective. That’s the objective.”
For now, Roberts expressed relief that Ohtani seems to be getting back on track, noting that the four-time MVP reported his knee felt “good” after treatment during the All-Star break.
“We trust the players know their bodies best. If Ohtani feels ready to pitch, we support him. It’s not our job to push him,” Roberts concluded.
