The highly anticipated pitching debut of Shohei Ohtani in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform looks like it will be pushed back yet again.
After throwing his first bullpen session in front of a myriad of reporters and cameras, all signs pointed to the month of May as a possible debut on the mound. The thought was that Ohtani would face live hitters in the coming weeks from that original session. But now it seems the progression has slowed down a bit, and the hopeful debut may potentially be pushed back.
He has not thrown a bullpen session since February 25, and manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Thursday that it was a “little respite” as Ohtani is rehabing from a second major elbow ligament reconstruction and labrum surgery on his left shoulder.
“We just felt that to intensify the bullpens alongside of the intensity of the games wasn’t smart. So we just wanted to kind of slow-play it.”
Manager Dave Roberts
Dodgers Slow Down Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching Progression
While the hope was that Ohtani could face some live hitters in Spring Training, that will not be the case. He has continued throwing, however, just on a more managed regimen. The timeline of making his debut on the mound in May does indeed seem up in the air at this time.
“I just feel, and we all feel, that we’re just trying to make it a broad time to return. We just don’t know. And so I think that when he’s ready, when the process, the progression, as it’s going on, we’ll know. But I don’t want to put any kind of expectation on you guys, or Shohei.”
Manager Dave Roberts
While fans are chomping at the bit to see Ohtani on the bump, this is the wise play. The Dodgers have a stacked starting rotation as it is, so there should be no rush in getting him into the pitching lineup. Especially while he is rehabbing his non-throwing shoulder, as well.
With the rotation that they have, Ohtani is most valuable as a hitter, so the Dodgers and Roberts will want to ensure that they are enhancing that part of his game before stressing the other aspect.
While a May debut is not out of the question, without facing any live hitters before the regular season begins, it feels more unlikely. However, one thing is almost certain: we will see Shohei Ohtani pitch in a Dodgers uniform this season. We just don’t have any more clarity on when exactly that will be.
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