Shohei Ohtani Set to Return to the Mound in Year Two with the Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani, who served exclusively as a designated hitter during his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is anticipated to return to the mound in his second year with the team. However, the exact timing of his pitching debut for the reigning World Series champions remains uncertain.


Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed Ohtani's return to the starting rotation during the winter meetings, stating that it is "very unlikely" the 30-year-old will be ready to pitch by Opening Day. The Dodgers' Opening Day series for the 2025 season is set to be played in Japan and kicks off on March 18 with a two-game series against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Despite the pitching delay, Roberts is confident that Ohtani will still be able to play as a designated hitter in those games.


“I expect Shohei to be ready to hit in Japan,” Roberts said. “I don’t think he’d have it any other way. That’s our expectation.”


Roberts also noted the complexity of Ohtani’s return to pitching, emphasizing the need to balance his role as a hitter while he ramps up his pitching preparations. “I think the question is when he starts pitching in major league games, and how we build him up prior to that,” Roberts said. “I don’t see it as a minor league rehab situation. We’ve got to kind of be nimble with that one.”


Ohtani last pitched in an MLB game on August 23, 2023, before undergoing elbow surgery that September, which sidelined him from pitching for the entire 2024 season. Over his career, Ohtani has made 86 pitching appearances, recording a 3.01 ERA with 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings.


As Ohtani prepares for his return to the mound, the Dodgers will carefully manage his dual roles to ensure he remains a formidable force both as a pitcher and a hitter.