Shohei Ohtani’s Spring Training Bullpen Session: A Glimpse into His Two-Way Return
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The anticipation was palpable as dozens of photographers, camera operators, and reporters gathered around the bullpen mounds at the Los Angeles Dodgers spring training complex. The focus of their attention? None other than Shohei Ohtani, who was taking a significant step towards resuming his role as a two-way player.
On this particular Saturday morning, Ohtani took to the pitching rubber 14 times, executing his windup mechanics and delivering fastballs to Dodgers catcher Will Smith. This marked his first official bullpen session of the year, a momentous occasion for fans and the team alike.
While Ohtani isn’t expected to join the Dodgers’ rotation until May, and won’t pitch in any Cactus League games before the team heads to Tokyo, Japan, for the season opener in mid-March, these early steps are crucial. His fastballs clocked in between 92 to 94 mph, a bit shy of his game speed, and he has yet to incorporate breaking pitches from the mound.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remains optimistic, stating it’s “very feasible” for Ohtani to face hitters in March. However, this journey will require some creative maneuvering, given the lack of precedent for such a situation. Ohtani, the first two-way star since Babe Ruth, will spend April completing his rehab while contributing significantly to the Dodgers’ lineup.
“It’s going to be unique and we’re going to have to do it on the fly,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior commented. “We saw what he did last year trying to rehab and hit. That seemed to turn out pretty well, at least on the offensive side of the ball. It’s probably going to be some version of that. Great thing is, Shohei’s really dedicated to his craft, really dedicated and really meticulous about what he does. He communicates very well on what he needs those days to get ready. So we’re just going to have to be nimble and we’re going to have to adjust.”
Instead of a traditional rehab assignment, the Dodgers plan to organize simulated games before regular-season contests every five or six days in late March and throughout April. This will involve using bench players or nearby minor leaguers to simulate live action for Ohtani. The goal is to control as much as possible until the real games begin.
“Once he steps between the line of a real game, we can’t control the situation,” Prior explained. “That’ll be ultimately the principle that guides this whole thing is making sure that he’s 100 percent ready to go out there and let the game dictate what happens, and he’s in a position to handle that physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Ohtani, who was the unanimous National League MVP after the first 50/50 season in baseball history last year, is expected to be ready as a hitter by the season opener. However, his return to pitching will take more time. Prior likened Saturday’s session to dipping a toe in the water, a continuation of last year’s rehab process, which saw Ohtani face hitters before the Dodgers’ postseason run.
During the session, Ohtani threw both four-seamers and two-seamers, opting for the windup to reduce stress on his arm. He frequently checked the Rapsodo device for pitch characteristics, though the Wi-Fi was spotty.
Ohtani’s journey back to the mound follows a second repair of his ulnar collateral ligament in September 2023 and surgery to repair a torn labrum on his left, non-throwing shoulder in November 2024. Despite some discomfort from the shoulder repair, Prior hasn’t noticed any significant impact on Ohtani’s performance.
“I’ll be honest, it’s crazy to think that this guy had surgery on his left shoulder in November,” Prior said. “He doesn’t look like he’s missed a beat. There’s not a lot of things that kind of surprise me, but he looks really good. And that is surprising for a guy who’s had a surgery. I know it’s not his throwing shoulder, but it doesn’t look like his left shoulder has been impacted, at least visually to the naked eye. I’m sure he feels stuff here and there, but overall, he looks really good.”
- Ohtani’s fastballs ranged from 92 to 94 mph.
- He is expected to join the Dodgers’ rotation in May.
- Ohtani was the unanimous National League MVP last year.
- He underwent surgery on his left shoulder in November 2024.
Originally Written by: Alden Gonzalez
