Shohei Ohtani just took a massive step toward pitching again, facing live hitters on Saturday afternoon before the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He squared off against just one batter, catcher Will Smith, which was a double dose of good news since Smith himself is close to returning from neck inflammation that’s had him on the injured list since June 11. Ohtani threw 30 pitches total and flashed a thumbs-up when the session wrapped, according to the Associated Press.
The Knee Thing Is Behind Him?
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed what everyone’s been hoping: Ohtani looks recovered from the left knee issue that’s been bugging him since before the All-Star break. That knee problem was why he dropped out of the Dodgers’ starting rotation about a month ago. Roberts told reporters, including The Athletic’s Katie Woo, “If it were up to Shohei, he’d be in a game in a few days,” but the team is playing it safe. He added, “I’d like to think the knee thing is behind us. I think certainly given the buildup, we’ll be able to manage it.” The plan is for Ohtani to throw another live batting practice session next week, with how he feels after a day of recovery determining the exact timing.
Dodgers Loading Up For October
The Dodgers aren’t messing around with Ohtani’s return to the mound. The plan is a slow, methodical build-up, all geared toward getting him ready for the postseason. When he finally steps onto a big-league mound to pitch, he’ll likely start as an opener, working just one inning for his first few starts. From there, they’ll progressively extend each outing until he can give them six innings in a playoff start. Even with their pitching staff battling injuries, this timeline has to be encouraging for them to hit full strength by September and roll right into the postseason. Remember, their rotation already boasts Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, and the recently returned Blake Snell.
The Rest of the Rotation Gets Healthy
And it’s not just Ohtani on the mend. Tyler Glasnow is expected to be back on the bump Tuesday to face the Atlanta Braves, making his first appearance since hitting the IL on May 8 with lower back spasms. Plus, Justin Wrobleski (left forearm inflammation) and closer Edwin Díaz (neck inflammation) are both looking at early September returns when they’re eligible for activation. Díaz even threw a bullpen session on Saturday. The Dodgers are getting healthy at just the right time, and that next Ohtani live BP next week is just another step toward what they hope is a deep playoff run.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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