Latest Rumors on Shohei Ohtani Pitching Return amid Dodgers Star's Elbow Injury

Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers has received major updates after he threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday as he continues to recover from his second Tommy John surgery.

As he works his way back to full health, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal shared the Dodgers’ plans for his potential return to pitching in the postseason.

"The Dodgers are being intentionally deliberate with his process coming off of a second major elbow surgery," Rosenthal said during Fox's broadcast on Saturday. "The goal; to get Ohtani ready for the postseason."

Ohtani didn't throw any breaking balls in his latest bullpen session, per Rosenthal, but he did add a few splitters. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described the session as "positive."

"It's a week, but then there's also the one in between, where he touches the mound on a Thursday," Roberts said, per ESPN. "And I think it's just more trying to keep him on a similar seven-day program, and what the schedule would look [like] going out, and build from there."

The three-time MVP has stepped away from pitching to focus on hitting, posting a .324 batting average with three home runs and three RBIs over nine games this season.

The Dodgers have gotten off to a powerful 8-1 start to their season without their two-way player pitching, with Ohtani landing in the team’s designated hitter spot. It appears that this will remain the case until October.

The four-time All-Star holds a pitching record of 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings. Ohtani has not pitched in a game since his surgery in September 2023.