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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Gets New Major Pitching Update After Tommy John Surgery

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jon Conahan | Last updated May 17, 2025 9:40 PM ET

There have been times when it feels like the Los Angeles Dodgers don't want Shohei Ohtani to pitch.

Whether that's the case or not remains to be seen, but there could be some logic behind it.

However, for now, the Dodgers are going through with the plan for Ohtani to throw sometime in the near future, and according to a recent report from Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, things are going in the right direction.

According to Plunkett, the Dodgers increased Ohtani's workload in his weekly bullpen session on Saturday. The right-hander threw 50 pitches but didn't throw any breaking balls.

"#Dodgers Shohei Ohtani increased his work in his weekly bullpen session today. 50 pitches, split 25-25 in an up-down (simulated inning break). Most he has thrown in his TJ recovery. Still hasn't thrown any breaking pitches but must be close to throwing to hitters," he wrote.

Throwing breaking balls right now isn't an important step for Ohtani. They need to make sure that he's healthy first and then they can expand his workload, pitch mix, and velocity.

Getting Ohtani back on the mound would be a step in the right direction for Los Angeles.

While they were hoping for him to be a starter at some point in the next few years when they signed him, his bat has made up for plenty of that.

However, when he's been on the mound for parts of his career, he's been excellent, evident by his 2.33 ERA in 2022, striking out 219 hitters in 166.0 innings that season.

Even if the 30-year-old throws in spot starts for the Dodgers or comes out of the bullpen in certain games, there would be value in having him on the mound.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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