Originally, many believed that Shohei Ohtani would make his return to the big league mound sometime after the 2025 All-Star Break. However, after throwing three simulated innings on Tuesday, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed there is a chance Ohtani could join the rotation before the All-Star Break.
Roberts told ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez that there is a “north of zero” chance Ohtani joins the Dodgers rotation before the Midsummer Classic. However, he maintained the sentiment that the Dodgers are not going to take any unnecessary risks.
“It’s tempting,” Roberts told ESPN. “I’m sure Shohei is tempted to just rip the Band-Aid off for a big league game. But I think we’ve done a good job of just being patient. And truth be told, I don’t know if anyone knows the right time to get him in a big league game. But we’re still being very careful.”
Getting Ohtani back in the rotation would be great for the Dodgers. Rōki Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are all on the injured list, and the Dodgers are suddenly in need of starters. The biggest question will be how much build-up Ohtani needs after not pitching since August 2023.
“It certainly doesn’t have to be a full buildup,” Roberts said, “because anything that he can give us is certainly additive.”
Ohtani’s return to the mound is not only a big deal for the Dodgers but also for Samurai Japan. Ohtani has a 3.01 career ERA in Major League Baseball and finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award race in 2022. In 2023, he also pitched for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
Ohtani famously struck out Mike Trout to close out Japan’s win at the World Baseball Classic, but that was not his only pitching performance. He made two starts as well, and in 9 2/3 total innings of work, he had a 1.86 ERA and had 11 strikeouts. His 11 strikeouts ranked third among all players in the tournament, tied with his now teammate Sasaki. Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out 12, and now all three are teammates for the Dodgers.
With Ohtani’s return to the mound, all three could once again suit up for Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Shohei Ohtani, center, throws live batting practice as pitching coach Mark Prior, second from left, watches prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
