Shohei Ohtani, the star player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, may not be ready to pitch for the team in its upcoming games in Japan to kick off the next season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed that Ohtani, who is still recovering from elbow and shoulder surgeries, is unlikely to take the mound in L.A.’s matches against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo in March, as reported by The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
Despite this setback, Ohtani is expected to contribute as a hitter when the season begins. Roberts assured that the team will carefully manage Ohtani’s workload and develop a plan to gradually reintroduce him to pitching.
While this news may disappoint Ohtani’s fans in Japan, it aligns with the team’s strategy for his return to pitching in the 2025 season. Ohtani missed the entire previous season due to a UCL tear in his pitching arm. In 2023, his final pitching season with the Angels, Ohtani achieved a 3.14 ERA and a 10-5 record in 23 starts.
Despite his absence from pitching, Ohtani’s hitting prowess played a crucial role in the Dodgers clinching their eighth World Series title, earning him a unanimous MVP award. Ohtani made history by becoming the first player to achieve 50 home runs, 50 stolen bases, an MVP title, and a World Series victory in a single season. This remarkable feat followed his record-breaking $700 million contract and a high-profile scandal involving his former interpreter.
While the timeline for Ohtani’s return to pitching remains uncertain, the Dodgers are optimistic about his comeback to the rotation in the near future, provided his recovery progresses smoothly.