Ohtani’s return to the mound has been pushed back to give him more recovery time.:
The Los Angeles Dodgers are pumping the brakes on Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound.
On Thursday, The Athletic reported Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says Ohtani’s progress has been slowed a bit to give him a break. Ohtani is still working his way back from a hybrid Tommy John surgery he had in September 2023, as well as offseason surgery on the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder.
While Ohtani has not stopped throwing, the team is attempting to manage his workload.
“We just felt that to intensify the bullpens alongside of the intensity of the games wasn’t smart,” Roberts said. “So we just wanted to kind of slow-play it.”
Ohtani won’t face hitters before the Dodgers head to Japan for their season-opening series against the Chicago Cubs. The team had been targeting May for the star’s return to the mound, but that appears to be off now.
“I just feel, and we all feel, (that we’re) just trying to make it a broad time to return,” Roberts said. “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.”
Ohtani has been working as a designated hitter in spring training and has five hits in 12 at-bats with a home run. In 2024, Ohtani won the National League MVP award and led his team to a World Series title in his first season with the Dodgers. He hit .310, with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, 59 stolen bases and an OPS of 1.036.
It doesn’t seem like we’ll see him on the mound any time soon, though.
Los Angeles Dodgers Roster For MLB Spring Breakout Game Vs. Cubs
MLB Spring Breakout games are being played for the second consecutive year as the league looks to further highlight some of the sport’s top prospects across all 30 organizations.
This year’s Spring Breakout rosters feature 72 players who were featured on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects lists for the 2025 season.
The Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners boast the most top 100 prospects on their respective Spring Breakout rosters with six each.
The Los Angeles Dodgers roster consists of just three prospects that were included on the MLB Pipeline top 100 rankings for 2025. That group consists of Josue De Paula (No. 40), Jackson Ferris (No. 70) and Zyhir Hope (No. 74).
Spring Breakout games will use the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system at Camelback Ranch, Goodyear Ballpark, Peoria Sports Complex and Salt River Fields, in addition to Florida Grapefruit League stadiums in Clearwater, Dunedin and Jupiter.
Dodgers prospects are scheduled to play those from the Chicago Cubs organization on Thursday, March 13. First pitch at Camelback Ranch is set for 6:05 p.m. PT. It will air on MLB Network once coverage of the Spring Breakout game between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays has concluded.
Among the 16 Spring Breakout games being played this year, nine are part of a traditional doubleheader (one admission charge) either before or after Major League teams square off.
Tickets for Spring Breakout games can be purchased here.
Dodgers roster for MLB Spring Breakout 2025
Pitchers (9): Chris Campos, Jackson Ferris, Carson Hobbs, Hyun-Seok Jang, Ronan Kopp, Kelvin Ramirez, Jose Rodriguez, Lucas Wepf, Reynaldo Yean
Catchers (3): Yeiner Fernandez, Nelson Quiroz, Carlos Rojas
Infielders (8): Chase Harlan, Kellon Lindsey, Emil Morales, Kyle Nevin, Nico Perez, Joendry Vargas, Joe Vetrano, Logan Wagner
Outfielders (7): Josue De Paula, Jaron Elkins, Kendall George, Zyhir Hope, Ching-Hsien Ko, Eduardo Quintero, Mike Sirota
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