Shohei Ohtani is progressing towards a return to the pitcher's mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani completed his first bullpen session in approximately a month on Friday, with manager Dave Roberts indicating that the next steps will include another bullpen session and live batting practice, provided there are no setbacks.
"Then," Roberts said Saturday, "I would see him in a major league game."
Before his pitching duties were halted due to a knee and biceps injury, Ohtani was having a Cy Young-caliber season. He posted a 1.79 ERA with 95 strikeouts across 85.2 innings. His injury effectively ended his two-way contributions for the remainder of the season.
Ohtani's absence from the rotation has also strained the Dodgers' bullpen, which has had to absorb extra innings. The relief unit has seen its depth reduced, contributing to recent struggles.
In addition to Ohtani's progress, Roberts also provided an update on pitcher Tyler Glasnow, stating that Glasnow requires only one more rehab start before rejoining the Dodgers' rotation. Glasnow recently delivered a dominant performance in a triple-A start.
While Ohtani has not pitched in a major league game since July 3, he has continued to be an active hitter. He is currently batting .290 with 27 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a .930 OPS. Questions have arisen regarding the sustainability of his performance at the plate in 2026, particularly in relation to the demanding workload of a two-way player. Despite offensive numbers not matching his previous two seasons with the Dodgers, his success as a two-way player has kept him in MVP contention.