Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching Return Delayed by Dodgers Until Postseason

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop‑pitcher Shohei Ohtani continues to recover from a left‑knee injury that limits his ability to pitch. After a brief bullpen appearance on July 22, in which he threw 30 pitches, he made a second bullpen session on July 26, but manager Dave Roberts stressed that a May‑July return is “too early.” Roberts said the priority is the October playoff stretch, adding, “The important thing is October, not July.”

The team has kept Ohtani in the lineup as a designated hitter while monitoring his health, and media speculation in the United States and Japan has suggested a limited three‑inning start if he were to pitch before the postseason. The Dodgers have not set a specific timeline for a full pitching comeback.