During a media session on Monday, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided a significant update on Ohtani’s pitching availability for the 2025 MLB season. Roberts revealed that it is “very unlikely” Ohtani will be ready to pitch on Opening Day. However, he added that the star slugger is expected to be in the lineup as a hitter from the outset of the season, according to Dodgers writer Noah Camras.
Ohtani, the reigning National League MVP, did not pitch at all during the 2024 season after undergoing surgery in September 2023 to repair a UCL tear in his right elbow.
Despite his absence on the mound, Ohtani’s offensive contributions were nothing short of historic. He became the first player in MLB history to achieve a 50-homer, 50-stolen-base season, playing a pivotal role in the Dodgers’ World Series-winning campaign.
However, the postseason brought additional challenges for Ohtani. He suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder while sliding into second base during the World Series and subsequently underwent arthroscopic surgery in November 2024.
Although the injury was to his non-throwing arm, it still poses potential complications for his eventual return to pitching, as the mechanics of pitching require a full-body effort.
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The Dodgers are set to begin their 2025 season earlier than usual, with a two-game series against the Chicago Cubs in Japan on March 18-19. While Ohtani’s presence in his home country is sure to excite fans, it is highly unlikely that he will be ready to pitch by then.
This timeline underscores the importance of the Dodgers’ recent acquisition of another star pitcher, aimed at bolstering their rotation while Ohtani focuses on his recovery.
As Ohtani continues his rehabilitation, the Dodgers remain optimistic about his eventual return as a two-way force.
For now, fans will have to be content with watching him excel at the plate as one of the game’s most electrifying hitters, with the hope that his full two-way brilliance will return later in the 2025 season.
