Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Shohei Ohtani's Future As Pitcher in 2025 Finally Revealed

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Beren | Last updated Apr 29, 2025 3:48 PM ET

Shohei Ohtani last stepped on a pitcher's mound on August 23, 2023, completing 1.1 innings for the Los Angeles Angels. An elbow injury sustained during that start against the Cincinnati Reds required Ohtani to undergo Tommy John surgery, and he has not added to his 86 MLB starts since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers on a mammoth free agent contract.

It's not all bad for Ohtani, though. "Reduced" to designated hitter duties with the Dodgers, Ohtani in 2024 won his third MVP award, becoming the first player in MLB history to his 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season.

But part of the reason why Ohtani merited a 10-year, $700 million commitment from the Dodgers is because of his success at the bump as well as at the plate -- and fans continue to wonder when Ohtani will pitch for the first time in Dodger blue.

.@JonHeyman says Clayton Kershaw should be good to return to the Dodgers "around" May 18th and Shohei Ohtani could get on the mound in the second half of the regular season.#MLBCentral pic.twitter.com/ym7wss29jg
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 29, 2025

MLB insider Jon Heyman provided an answer of sorts on Tuesday. Though the Dodgers are tied for first place in the competitive NL West, Los Angeles is a bit light on healthy starters; Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell both hit the injured list on Monday, and the Dodgers bullpen has thrown the most innings of any relief corps in baseball to this point.

Heyman revealed that the Dodgers are "slow-playing" Ohtani's return to the hill, and Los Angeles continues to target "the second half of the season" for his debut as a starting pitcher in the National League.

In more encouraging news for Dodgers pitching, Heyman revealed that three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw is set to make his 2025 debut on May 18. Kershaw last week threw 60 pitches for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers as he continues to rehab from left toe surgery; the Dodgers can activate him from the 60-day IL on May 17.

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

More must-reads: