Shohei Ohtani Pitching Update: When Will Dodgers Star Pitch Again?

Shohei Ohtani remains baseball’s brightest star. A large portion of that fame originates from his unicorn-like ability to hit and pitch in the Big Leagues.

But only half of that magical baseball equation has been in play for Ohtani over the past year-and-a-half. The Japanese sensation hasn't thrown a pitch in an MLB game in 639 days. Dodgers fans and many fantasy baseball managers are currently wondering “when will Ohtani pitch again?”

Below, we will deliver an update on Ohtani’s pitching status and look at possible dates for his return to the mound.

When will Shohei Ohtani pitch again in MLB?

Barring a major setback, we will see Shohei Ohtani pitch in MLB this season. However, he might still be a month or two away.

The most recent update comes from Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. Harris wrote on May 20 that Ohtani has “steadily increased the number of throws in his weekly bullpen sessions, getting up to 50 (on May 17).” 

Harris also wrote that Ohtani “mixed in some breaking pitches for the first time in his throwing session this year” during that bullpen outing. Ohtani had only been throwing fastballs and splitters in those sessions.

“It is progressing,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ohtani’s timeline for a return to pitching. “I’m not sure when (Ohtani) is going to take that slider from the flat ground to the bullpen, but that is progress. Yes.”

Everything coming out of Dodgers' camp the past few months indicates Ohtani will not pitch in the Majors again until July, at the earliest. The most likely return dates seem to be right after the MLB All-Star break. 

Here's a look at the Dodgers’ schedule to begin the second half of the season.

• Friday July 18: Brewers at Dodgers
• Saturday, July 19: Brewers at Dodgers
• Sunday, July 20: Brewers at Dodgers
• Monday, July 21: Twins at Dodgers
• Tuesday, July 22: Twins at Dodgers
• Wednesday, July 23: Twins at Dodgers

Why isn't Shohei Ohtani pitching anymore?

Ohtani’s time with the Los Angeles Angels fizzled out late in the 2023 season. He left an Aug. 23, 2023 game against the Reds with “arm fatigue.” Nearly a month later, on Sept. 19, 2023, Ohtani underwent elbow surgery. It was Ohtani’s second elbow surgery, as he also underwent a Tommy John procedure at the end of the 2018 season.

MLB teams are much more cautious with players who have endured multiple elbow surgeries. The typical recovery timeline for an MLB pitcher following their first Tommy John surgery is 12-14 months. As for a second Tommy John surgery, the recovery timeline is usually around 18-20 months. Ohtani hasn't pitched in 20 months and 30 days, so it's clear the Dodgers are moving forward cautiously.

The most recent example of a player coming back from a second surgery on his elbow is Jacob deGrom. The two-time Cy Young winner went through a second Tommy John surgery in June 2023 and made his return to an MLB mound in September 2024. The Rangers hurler is now enjoying something of a career renaissance, as he owns a 4-1 record and a 2.33 ERA across 10 starts this season.

Ohtani, of course, is his own entity given that he's been contributing - and then some - for the Dodgers at the plate in the meantime. The DH is tied for the MLB lead in home runs this season with 17.

Bet on Ohtani

Ohtani won’t be in the Cy Young running this year, but he's the NL leader in the MLB MVP odds at our best MLB betting sites while getting a price of +100.

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