The Los Angeles Dodgers are continuing with Shohei Ohtani's pitching progression, with the team still aiming for the star to return to the mound this year despite recent setbacks. Ohtani's expected pitching start last Sunday was postponed due to ongoing issues with his knee and biceps injuries.
Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations for the Dodgers, stated Tuesday that while navigating a build-up for someone who is also a designated hitter presents challenges, Ohtani himself wants to rejoin the team on the pitcher's mound. Ohtani has not pitched for the Dodgers since July 3, encountering repeated difficulties and adjustments to his recovery plan.
The most recent delay occurred last weekend when the team revised its tentative plan for Ohtani to make a one-inning start in Detroit. This decision followed a bullpen session where Ohtani did not feel completely recovered. Manager Dave Roberts indicated that while the team desires Ohtani's return for the playoffs, they must consider the potential impact on his hitting performance, particularly given his recent slump at the plate. "His value offensively is hugely important," Roberts said. "So if throwing potentially cuts into that, that’s not worth the squeeze."
Roberts also suggested that Ohtani's chances of being fully built up for extended playoff starts may be diminished by the latest delay. As of Tuesday, Ohtani is not expected to start a game for at least another week. "I do think that there’s going to be a conversation that needs to be had this week about what the outlook is," Roberts noted. "We haven’t had it yet."
Friedman, however, expressed continued commitment to Ohtani's pitching recovery, holding out hope for his availability in the playoffs, potentially in a limited capacity. "I think anything he can do is very additive and very helpful," Friedman said.
According to Friedman, Ohtani had initially felt positive during his most recent ramp-up process, with no issues reported after initial bullpen sessions. However, after a live batting practice session on August 22, Ohtani experienced what was described as "game-type soreness." The plan then shifted to building tolerance to ensure his return would be sustainable.
The team ultimately decided against Ohtani's planned Sunday start, deeming it "just felt rushed." Friedman emphasized a more thoughtful approach, removing pressure related to specific dates. "For us, it was, ‘Let’s take away the pressure of thinking you have to build up to X by this date,’ and more, ‘Let’s make sure we’re doing it in the most thoughtful way we can,’" he explained. "And whatever that equals at the end is awesome, and very additive. So we were synced up on that, and will continue to monitor his throwing this week and just read and react based on when we think it makes sense to throw him in a game."
When questioned about the possibility of shutting down Ohtani from pitching, Friedman remained non-committal. He pointed to Ohtani's past ability to handle a full starter's workload while also delivering offensively, arguing that his current pitching progression is less demanding. "Obviously, we wouldn’t do anything that would materially cut into his offense," Friedman said. "That’s where communication with him is key, understanding how he’s feeling, how he’s recovering. And we don’t pretend to have the answers right now. It’s more read-and-react based on how he comes out of each session."
Friedman reiterated that the more Ohtani can pitch in the playoffs, the better, but the focus is on the day-to-day process. "But we’re trying not to think about what it looks like at the end, and more treat each upcoming day of stuff the way we can,” he continued. “And then we can get to the end and think, ‘This is what he’s available for.’" The exact timeline for his pitching return remains uncertain.