Shohei Ohtani is the Los Angeles Dodgers’ big unknown for the 2025 MLB season. The Japanese double threat has more than made up for the massive salary he receives and yet he still owes the team and the fans, all because of the injuries that have not left him alone.
Ohtani came to the Dodgers in 2024 with the largest contract in Major League history, $700 million for 10 years. At the time, Los Angeles was signing a star hitter and a dominant pitcher. However, so far, Ohtani has not even been able to get on the mound.
In September 2023, while still playing for the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani underwent elbow surgery, which limited his work as a pitcher in 2024. Now, with the 2025 season fast approaching, Shohei is back in the operating room, placing a giant question mark in the Dodgers’ bullpen.
When will Shohei Ohtani pitch again?
The Japanese phenomenon underwent labrum surgery this offseason, which means his work with the team will be restricted to that of designated hitter while his rehabilitation lasts. Speaking to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, Ohtani admitted that there is no date for his return as a pitcher.
His condition is difficult to assess at the moment, the player himself explained that he “will know more when he returns to the bullpen.” However, specialists remember that labrum surgery is a delicate matter, which can keep an athlete away from work for several months and there is no guarantee that recovery will be complete.
The cases of Michael Pineda, who missed two seasons with the New York Yankees between 2012 and 2014, and Johan Santana, who ended his career in 2013 after two similar surgeries, resonate strongly in the minds of the Dodgers.
On the contrary, the successful recovery of Julio Urías after 15 months of rehabilitation is a beacon of hope for Ohtani, the Dodgers, and their fans.
The needs of the Dodgers
Although nothing is set in stone regarding Ohtani’s eventual return, the Dodgers cannot just wait for the recovery of their star. The arrival of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the contract extension for Tyler Glasnow, and the return of Walker Buehler after surgery guarantee a solid bullpen for the Dodgers this season.
That kind of certainty is what the team needs in the face of uncertainty over Ohtani’s status. Although he says his rehabilitation is “on schedule” and “pretty smooth,” his current status leaves more questions than answers.