Shohei Ohtani actually hit the bullpen mound today for the Dodgers, slinging about 30 pitches before their game against the Phillies. This dude was supposed to be *starting* Wednesday, but that left knee irritation, the same one that yanked him from the All-Star Game last week, totally torched those plans.
The Knee Issue Continues to Nag
Remember when Ohtani last pitched? It was way back on July 3. He’s been dealing with this balky left knee, even got a lubricant injection for it. The good news for the two-time defending World Series champs is that knee ain’t bothering him at the plate. He was out there leading off as their designated hitter on Wednesday, doing his thing, putting the bat on the ball.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called today’s 30-pitch session a “big sign,” and you know it is. Getting him back on the mound is everything for that squad. Roberts said, “The grass, the flat ground, all that stuff is good. The arm’s fine. It’s kind of just going down the slope, getting over your front side. That’s the big test.” You can feel the tension there, right? That delivery motion is the real hurdle he has to clear before he’s back pitching in games.
Still No Timetable in Sight
But here’s the kicker: even after seeing him throw those pitches, there’s *still* no timetable for Ohtani’s return to the mound. Zero. Zilch. How much longer can this go on? The Dodgers are rolling into the White House on Thursday for their World Series recognition, then it’s straight to New York to kick off a three-game series against the Mets on Friday. They need this guy back on the bump, ASAP. You gotta wonder if this knee issue will linger, or if this bullpen session means a full return is closer than they’re letting on. It’s a waiting game, and every Dodgers fan is holding their breath.
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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