A Los Angeles Dodger has been waiting for a long time for that magical moment on June 18- it was the redemption arc for him. It came after missing the entire 2024 season and spending the first half of 2025 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. But he finally got the ball back in the Los Angeles Dodgers uniform. He faced the San Diego Padres, and well, he made the most of the opportunity.

The player in question- Emmet Sheehan. He delivered four strong innings, giving up just one run on three hits, striking out six, and walking none. It was a storybook return and should have maybe guaranteed a bigger role, right? But, well, even though the rotation was stretched thin, Sheehan was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City the very next day! It was a surprise and a shock for both fans and analysts alike.

Dodgers’ answer for this bizarre decision? Roster flexibility, not performance. And so Sheehan returned to OKC, where he ended up making even more noise.

In a recent outing, Sheehan threw six perfect innings, struck out 13 batters, and racked up 12 strikes. For a pitcher who hasn’t been on a big league mound in over a year until midyear, this is huge. Still, manager Dave Roberts, according to Bill Plunkett, isn’t ready to bring him back yet. “Obviously, he’s coming off a really good one. I’m not particularly sure when his next outing is. I know it’s not going to be with us. He’ll have another one with OKC, and then at that point in time, there might be some things happening.”

That hint is not helping Sheehan’s future, especially given the Los Angeles Dodgers’ fragile rotation. Tyler Glasnow is still in progress, and Roki Sasaki is throwing, but still without any return date right now. And Blake Snell is still in the bullpen sessions. But honestly, the bullpen has carried so much of the weight, so right now, Sheehan might just be the fresh, welcome arm they need.

Across his rookie season in 2023, he posted a 4.92 ERA across 13 appearances. That version of Sheehan was raw, and this one, after surgery and after refinement, looks simply ready. Now he will be eligible for a call-up by July 4, unless someone hits the injured list, which is also not impossible, given the Los Angeles Dodgers’ history. But whether the Dodgers choose to act then or delay things, Sheehan has done more than enough to prove he belongs here. Just as Emmet Sheehan’s future with LA remains in the air, another name is taking baby steps towards pitching at full strength—Shohei Ohtani!

Shohei Ohtani fires third Start as Los Angeles Dodgers continue careful comeback plan

Shohei Ohtani did one inning here and another inning there, and this time it was his third start of the season on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals. Ohtani gave Dodgers fans something that they have been dying to see—a little more hope and runway. So after two one-inning outings, he completed two innings, and he did it in style. Ohtani needed just 27 pitches, allowed one hit and one walk, and struck out one batter. But the number that everyone seems to be talking about is his fastball. It went to 101.7 mph! It’s the hardest pitch that the Japanese star has ever thrown in his MLB career. And the second inning? That was textbook efficiency, too.

Shohei Ohtani faced the minimum, throwing 13 pitches—12 of them for strikes. This is the command that Dave Roberts and the Dodgers care about. The reason is that they are treating this comeback with so much care. Ohtani’s first multi-inning appearance since his elbow surgery in September last year and shoulder surgery after the WS was a critical step in his gradual return to his two-way dominance. Now this is exactly what even Tim Kurkjian had said—Ohtani will only get better in time—and this is what’s happening.

As if that was not enough, Ohtani was announced this week as the National League’s starting DH for the All-Star Game in Atlanta. He has 4 million votes! So his return is right now looking completely red hot. Isn’t it?