Each passing day brings a fresh wave of anticipation in Los Angeles, and for good reason. The Dodgers’ two-way sensation, Shohei Ohtani, is steadily inching closer to his long-awaited return to the mound. Well, after months of speculation and cautious optimism, the countdown has truly begun.

For fans who’ve marveled at his power at the plate, the thought of Ohtani taking the ball again is enough to send a jolt of excitement. Even manager Dave Roberts couldn’t hide his emotions, offering a candid glimpse into the team’s mindset as they eye the return of their pitching phenom. And by the sound of it, the wait may soon be over.

For starters, Ohtani was scheduled to face a live bullpen yesterday for the first time since his second TJ surgery. Guess what, he passed with flying colors.

“We got something out of it, 22 pitches, touch 97, threw some sweepers, some cutters, two two-seam forcing, and so I thought it was a good first step,” Roberts shared in an interview with The Dodgers Bleed Los Podcast Network.

So, Ohtani took another major step toward reclaiming his two-way dominance, putting on a show even before the first pitch of the game. Just four hours before leading off for the Dodgers in their series finale against the Mets, Ohtani took the mound for a live batting practice session. Well, he gave everyone a glimpse of what’s to come.

Throughout 22 pitches he threw, Ohtani unleashed his full arsenal. Fastballs, sinkers, cutters, sweepers, and that devastating splitter. While he leaned heavily on his fastball, mixing in just two sweepers and a lone splitter, the velocity was nothing short of electric. Sitting comfortably at 94–95 mph, Ohtani even let one rip and hit 97 mph.

That’s all against his teammate, Gavin Watkins. So, hopefully you got the message here. He’s getting close.

So, are we going to see Ohtani now in a live game as a pitcher?

“There was certainly, with the velocity today, the amount of pitches, and there was more intensity. So I’ll be mindful, we’ll all be mindful of how that affects tonight’s game,” Roberts further added.

Undoubtedly, in the current scenario, Ohtani holds more value as a hitter to the team compared to as a pitcher. Currently leading the league with 18 HRs, he is too costly as a batter to lose for the Dodgers. Hence, the team management will check how Ohtani’s hitting against the Mets goes after such a grueling bullpen session. If good, then we are just about to see Shohei Ohtani at the mound for the first time in a Dodgers jersey.

The Dodgers can afford to pitch without Ohtani

Yes, the Dodgers are reeling with the injuries to Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw, and Roki Sasaki. But they still possess enough depth and talent in their pitching staff to remain a top-tier team on the mound. The team has frontline starters like Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto leading the rotation. Moreover, emerging arms such as Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, and Emmet Sheehan contribute meaningful innings. Hence, the Dodgers have managed to absorb the blow of losing big-name pitchers.

Also, their bullpen, featuring reliable relievers like Evan Phillips and Ryan Brasier, continues to be a consistent strength, supported by the organization’s elite pitching development pipeline. Enough not to rush with Ohtani’s return to the mound.

In contrast, Shohei Ohtani’s value as a hitter is irreplaceable and far more critical to the Dodgers’ success this season. His presence in the middle of the lineup provides the kind of explosive power that changes games. Something the Dodgers can’t replicate elsewhere, even with stars like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

Simply put, while the Dodgers can survive pitcher injuries thanks to their depth, they cannot afford to be without Ohtani’s bat. Still, fans can hope to see Ohtani at the mound after the All-Star game. But he is mainly reserved for the postseason.