It started with a spark of curiosity. Pat McAfee, leaning in with that familiar intensity, welcomed ESPN insider Jeff Passan onto his show expecting insight. But what he got was a calculated, behind-the-curtain look into how the Dodgers are handling Shohei Ohtani’s return to pitching—and it left McAfee and the audience buzzing.

“Is there a chance we’re going to see Shohei pitch sooner rather than later?” McAfee asked, voicing the question on every baseball fan’s mind as injuries mount in the Dodgers’ rotation. Passan didn’t miss a beat: “Nope. I don’t think the Dodgers give a damn about right now.” That answer hit like a fastball at the letters—blunt, deliberate, and deeply revealing.

And that’s the hook: this isn’t about June. It’s about October. “They are more concerned with having the best rotation that they can for the postseason,” Passan explained. “They’re not trying to rush guys back at all.” That strategy, while bold, speaks volumes about the Dodgers’ confidence, not just in their roster, but in their system.

Here’s what makes it all the more fascinating. Shohei Ohtani threw a bullpen session recently that included fastballs and splitters—his first since undergoing a second elbow procedure. But unlike typical pitchers coming back from surgery, he won’t get minor league rehab starts. “Shohei can’t do that,” Passan noted. “It’s going to be like right out there for him.”

So, when does he come back? Passan offered his best informed speculation: “It seems like August is probably the right time.” That gives Shohei Ohtani time to ramp up, and the Dodgers a few weeks to slot him into their October rotation without stress.

The Dodgers’ depth allows them this luxury. They’ve got a full stable of arms between Triple-A and the bullpen—enough to cover the current wave of injuries. That’s not something most teams can say with a straight face.

While McAfee didn’t get the dramatic “Shohei’s starting next week” soundbite he might’ve hoped for, the clarity from Passan painted a bigger picture: the Dodgers aren’t improvising, they’re executing a masterpiece.

As the countdown to August ticks on, one thing’s certain: the wait to see Ohtani back on the mound may test our patience, but it’s only making the eventual return that much more thrilling.

MVP buzz is getting louder

You can feel it building. Every time Shohei Ohtani steps to the plate, the MVP whispers get a little louder. But after what he did against the Diamondbacks? It’s not a whisper anymore; it’s a full-blown chant. Ohtani’s game-winning three-run homer in the ninth inning wasn’t just a highlight—it was a message: he’s not just back, he’s better than ever.

What’s wild is that Shohei isn’t doing this with smoke and mirrors. He’s doing it with numbers that scream elite. As of now, he’s hitting .308 with a 1.051 OPS, 12 home runs, and double-digit stolen bases—all while recovering from elbow surgery. MLB insider Ben Verlander said it best: “Shohei is hitting .308 with an OPS over a thousand, stealing double-digit bases… He’s close to the league lead [in home runs], which is Aaron Judge with 14.” That’s the sort of equilibrium that only a handful of players in the industry can even imagine achieving.

Don’t overlook the fact that Shohei Ohtani made history as the player in two decades to achieve double-digit home runs and stolen bases within his team’s 36 games of the season.

That’s the kind of balance that very few players in the game can even dream of. That’s not just good, it’s historic. The last to do it? Brian Roberts in 2005. Pair that with Ohtani’s clutch factor and ability to completely alter the course of a game, and it’s clear: the 2025 MVP conversation is starting to orbit around one man again.

And his name is Shohei Ohtani.