Just when you thought the Los Angeles Dodgers were following the textbook on pitcher recovery, they’ve decided to toss the manual out the window and scribble their own chaotic notes in the margins. In a move that screams “calculated urgency” or perhaps “mild panic,” the team has stirred speculation about an early return to the mound for none other than Shohei Ohtani—their prized two-way unicorn with a surgically enhanced elbow.

The last time we saw Ohtani on the mound pitching in a professional game was back on August 23, 2023. Since then, all we have seen are glimpses of him in the bullpen and then nothing for a long time. But with reports coming in, his return looks closer than expected.

In an X post, The Japan News reported that Ohtani was in the bullpen, and he was looking very serious. They wrote, “Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani threw a 50-pitch bullpen session Saturday, another step in his throwing program in his return from elbow surgery.”

The Dodgers might not have had this in mind, but with the Dodgers facing multiple injuries in the past few weeks, they might have had no choice. Pitchers like Gavin Stone, River Ryan, and Kyle Hurt have undergone major surgery and will be out for at least the season. Some other pitchers like Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Blake Treinen have been on the IL for a few days now, and their arrival is also looking closer.

There was never a specific date for Ohtani’s return to the mound, but this news shows that he is closer. That is not the only news, it looks like Kershaw’s curveball is also going to be troubling batters in a few days. The Dodgers decided to up their pitching rotation and activate Clayton Kershaw. With the injuries the pitchers are facing this season, the Dodgers are leaving no stone unturned to make their team better.

So yes, while Ohtani’s return date remains a mystery wrapped in bullpen smoke, the Dodgers appear to be dropping hints like bread crumbs. With a rotation held together by duct tape and desperate optimism, they seem ready to accelerate plans. If this is a gamble, it’s one with million-dollar arms and billion-dollar stakes. And if chaos is the new strategy—well, the Dodgers might just be winning at it. And looks like, once again, they’d have MVP at their corner.

Shohei Ohtani’s 2025 MVP campaign is heating up

Some players chase greatness. Others casually jog past it while flipping the narrative on an entire season. Just when fans and analysts thought the magic had mellowed, bam—a swing, a sprint, and a scoreboard flipped upside down. The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t just sign a superstar—they unleashed a spectacle. And in the middle of the madness? Ohtani, quietly torching the league with numbers loud enough to break records—and egos.

Ohtani is lighting up the 2025 MLB season with monster numbers. The Dodgers’ two-way phenom is slashing .305 with 16 homers and 10 stolen bases. His OPS? A staggering 1.071. From crushing long balls to clutch comebacks, Ohtani’s bat is alive. He’s proving once again why he’s baseball’s most electrifying superstar.

MLB insider Ben Verlander believes Ohtani is building another MVP-worthy campaign. He said, “A game-winning three-run homer in a crazy comeback ninth inning for the Dodgers… He was the first player in baseball to hit 10 home runs and steal 10 bases this year. He did it in the team’s first 36 games. That hadn’t been done in 20 years, since Brian Roberts did it in 2005,” Verlander emphasized Ohtani’s elite stats, especially his 10 HR/10 SB feat in 36 games. That hasn’t happened since 2005. He’s not just back—he’s dominating with precision and flair.

Compared to his 2024 MVP season, Ohtani is even more dangerous now. His power-speed combo remains unmatched, and he’s started faster than ever. Last year’s MVP campaign saw explosive moments—this year adds consistency. With an OPS over 1.000, he’s setting the tone early. Ohtani is writing a new MVP chapter in 2025.

And if last year was the prelude, this season is the plot twist. Ohtani isn’t just repeating greatness—he’s remixing it with swagger, speed, and a splash of absurdity. MVP voters, grab your pens. The guy’s not chasing the crown—he’s redesigning it. Baseball isn’t ready. Frankly, it never was.