Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Shohei Ohtani Pitching Update: What’s the Realistic Timeline for His Return?

Shohei Ohtani back on the mound soon?

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

For the first time since 2023, Shohei Ohtani will stand on a mound and pitch to live hitters. The Dodgers’ two-way superstar is scheduled to throw live batting practice at Citi Field on Sunday, marking a key step in his gradual but closely watched return to pitching.

Ohtani was originally slated to throw Saturday, but with Friday’s marathon 13-inning game against the Mets and a rain delay disrupting the schedule, the Dodgers opted to push the session by a day. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters the decision was precautionary, and reiterated in a Saturday night interview with Ken Rosenthal that the team is still targeting a return to the rotation after the All-Star break.

Dave Roberts shared what he expects from Shohei Ohtani as he faces hitters tomorrow for the first time and when he might return to big-league action.

“I think the realistic expectation is after the break.”
pic.twitter.com/1d3KgcgioQ
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) May 25, 2025

It’s a notable shift from Roberts’ spring training comments, when he floated a possible May return. Another critical factor that is causing a more precautionary approach by the Dodgers is Shohei Ohtani’s offseason surgery not just on his pitching elbow, but also on his non-throwing shoulder to repair a labrum tear sustained during a stolen-base attempt in the 2024 World Series.

Shohei Ohtani Back to Pitching Soon?

All signs indicate Ohtani’s recovery remains on track. He threw a 35-pitch bullpen last weekend, and this week’s live BP represents his next hurdle. It’s his first time facing hitters since late 2023, when he shut down his arm to undergo major elbow surgery. The right-hander hasn’t pitched in a game since that procedure, though he never stopped producing at the plate, and in fact, was named NL MVP in 2024 on the strength of his offensive season alone.

WATCH: Fan Ditches Marlins Jersey Mid-Game to Celebrate with Shohei Ohtani

The 30-year-old remains a dominant force at the plate in 2025, continuing to anchor the Dodgers’ lineup as their full-time designated hitter. Shohei Ohtani has made 86 career starts in the majors, posting a 3.01 ERA with a 142 ERA+ and a 3.51 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His last full season as a starter came in 2022, when he finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting.

Whenever his next appearance comes, it will be his first time pitching in a Dodgers uniform since signing a record-setting 10-year contract before the 2024 season.

With the Dodgers’ rotation battered by injuries this year, Ohtani’s return could not come at a better time. Los Angeles will enter Sunday at 32–20 and atop the NL West, but the pitching depth has been stretched thin, making any timeline for Ohtani’s return a significant one.

ALSO READ: Is Pitching Worth the Risk for Dodgers’ Star Shohei Ohtani?

Still, as much as the rotation could use the help, a larger conversation looms. The Dodgers won the 2024 World Series without ever needing Ohtani’s arm. But without his bat? That title run might not have happened. And as his return to the mound nears, so does the bigger question: is the everyday risk of pitching worth it when Ohtani’s value at the plate might be even greater?

Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.