Shohei Ohtani's pitching return date is taking shape

Shohei Ohtani is getting closer to the finish line when it comes to his rehab as a pitcher.

The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Ohtani is expected to join the rotation at some point in July, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN reported on Tuesday. Furthermore, there is a “slight chance” that Ohtani could make his pitching debut for the Dodgers before the All-Star break, Gonzalez adds.

This latest development comes with Ohtani having just completed three simulated innings of pitching (totaling 44 pitches) on Tuesday afternoon. Ohtani has been facing live hitters since the end of May and has now taken another big step towards his return as a pitcher.

About to turn 31 years old, Ohtani has not pitched since undergoing UCL surgery on his right elbow in Sept. 2023 (when he was still a member of the Los Angeles Angels). That marked Ohtani’s second major surgery on his pitching elbow after a Tommy John procedure in 2018.

With the Dodgers set to play their final game of the All-Star break on July 13, it is possible that Ohtani could finally be pitching for them within a month’s time. He has also recently looked good on video while throwing live batting practice.

As for the Dodgers as a team, they are an NL West-leading 40-27 this season, but that marks “only” the fifth-best record in baseball right now. While the Dodgers have another absurd amount of pitching injuries they are dealing with at the moment, it looks like they will only have to wait a little bit longer to finally see the reigning NL MVP Ohtani take the mound for them.