Ever since Shohei Ohtani signed his record-breaking deal with the Dodgers, the buzz around his return to the mound has hovered over the 2025 season like a long-awaited encore. He has been everything the Dodgers hoped for at the plate—slashing, slugging, and stealing headlines. But his absence from the pitching side has been the one missing piece in their championship puzzle. Speculations are rife that Ohtani might give up pitching for his lasting career.

Well, that may soon change.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts offered a significant update this week, confirming that Ohtani has officially begun throwing bullpen sessions. It’s the first tangible sign that the two-way phenomenon is ramping up his progression toward a return to pitching, something both the team and fans have been eagerly awaiting since he underwent elbow surgery last fall.

However, despite encouraging signs in bullpen sessions and cautious optimism from Dodgers officials, a sense of doubt and endless speculation continue to swirl. This time, the Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, came up with a latest update.

“He threw a 35-pitch bullpen today. Hopefully, at some point in time, we’ll get him to face some hitters and do some simulated games.”

Roberts also said that it is still a couple of months away for Ohtani to take the mound. Yes, for those who were expecting Ohtani to pitch soon, you will surely be disappointed. Well, a 35-pitch bullpen session is not bad for Ohtani, considering he started from a 15-pitch session just a week ago. As long as Ohtani continues to throw consistently without setbacks, the two-way star appears to be progressing steadily toward a return to pitching at the Major League level.

The next step for Ohtani would be to face a few hitters and play a simulated game. Tentatively, that will take months before fans can see him in a regular-season game. However, shouldn’t it be a risky affair for the team not to rush with Ohtani amid their injury-ridden pitching lineup?

Ohtani’s situation is unlike any other in baseball. Why? Most pitchers returning from injury would eventually be sent on a minor league rehab assignment to build stamina and face live hitters. But Ohtani isn’t most pitchers—he’s also the Dodgers’ everyday designated hitter and one of the most dangerous bats in the lineup (7 HRs & 10 RBIs). That dual-role status complicates the usual timeline.

Because the Dodgers need his bat in the order almost every day, sending him to the minors for live work isn’t an option. That means his buildup will be carefully managed in controlled settings—bullpen sessions, simulated games, and potentially facing live hitters at the team’s training complex. Moreover, the team is more for Ohtani than just rushing him to the mound.

The Dodgers are betting on Ohtani for their postseason

The Dodgers have made one thing clear: there is no urgency to fast-track Ohtani’s return to the mound. They’re playing the long game, and the calendar they care most about is the one that begins in October. “We’re going to be patient,” Roberts said. “It’s about getting him back when it makes the most sense—not just physically, but strategically.”

Thus, for now, each bullpen session is another quiet but important step toward what could be a major late-season boost—one that only Shohei Ohtani is capable of providing.

There are other reasons as well for the Dodgers not to rush with Ohtani. Their considerable pitching depth, though it’s already been tested early in the season. Blake Snell, one of the team’s marquee offseason acquisitions, recently landed on the injured list. This forces the Dodgers to tap into their reserve of young arms.

That’s created opportunities for up-and-coming starters like Justin Wrobleski and Landon Knack. They both have stepped into big league roles ahead of schedule and held their own. Bobby Miller, another young right-hander with electric stuff, further reinforces the club’s internal options. Hence, the emergence of that next wave has not only kept the Dodgers afloat—it’s bought time.

It is time for Shohei Ohtani to rehab on his terms. And time for the team to prepare for a potential scenario in which their biggest star returns to the mound just as the postseason race tightens. What do you think?