Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani to Face Hitters for 1st Time Since Surgery on Elbow Injury

Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound is inching closer.

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star is set to face batters on Saturday for the first time since undergoing his second elbow ligament reconstruction following the 2023 season.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told Ardaya that the Dodgers don't anticipate Ohtani heading to the minors for rehab starts and instead will simulate games for the 30-year-old.

Ohtani has not yet pitched in a game for the Dodgers since signing a 10-year, $700 million contract ahead of the 2024 season. Despite the lack of pitching, Ohtani still made his first year worth it as he hit .310/.390/.646 with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs and won the NL MVP award.

Still, his pitching prowess adds to his immense value and he could be a front-of-rotation starter for a Dodgers team that has several star arms on the roster. He has a career 38-19 record with a 3.01 ERA in his career.

The Dodgers have dealt with injuries to notable pitchers like Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow so Ohtani's addition should add to the depth. The Dodgers are currently 31-19 and lead the NL West.