Shohei Ohtani Nears Return to Pitching for Dodgers After Successful Bullpen Session

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani threw a 30-pitch bullpen session at Citizens Bank Park, marking a crucial step in his recovery as he eyes a return to Major League Baseball pitching duties, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Shohei Ohtani Tests Left Knee in First Mound Session Since July

The 30-pitch workout was structured similarly to a normal between-starts bullpen session. Ohtani has not appeared in a major league game as a pitcher since July 3, 2026, when he made a start against the San Diego Padres. Before receiving the knee injection, pitching tasks appeared to aggravate the joint. Getting down the slope of the mound and throwing over the front side served as the primary physical test for the two-way star. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior evaluated the workout positively.

It looked good, Prior said, according to the Los Angeles Times. Feels good. We’ll see where he’s at tomorrow.

Dodgers Map Out Next Steps for Ohtani’s Return

Although Ohtani was active in the lineup as the designated hitter during the team’s series in Philadelphia, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts ruled out an immediate return to the starting rotation for the weekend series against the New York Mets. Team leadership plans to evaluate Ohtani’s physical response following an off day.

It’s day by day with him, Prior said, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. We’re present today. He threw a bullpen, see where he comes in … Friday, since we’re off [Thursday]. We’ll make determinations after that.

Manager Dave Roberts noted that the lengthy absence means the team must monitor Ohtani’s workload carefully once he is cleared to pitch in games again. Because he built up significant pitch count equity earlier in the season, the layoff has not completely reset his conditioning, but Roberts indicated the team does not expect him to throw 100 pitches immediately upon returning.