Shohei Ohtani Takes Major Step Toward Pitching Return as Dodgers Star Set to Face Hitters for First Time Since 2023

Shohei Ohtani’s unparalleled two-way baseball career is poised to take a significant step forward this weekend, as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ transcendent star continues his rehabilitation from a second major elbow ligament reconstruction. On Saturday afternoon at Citi Field in New York, Ohtani is scheduled to face live hitters for the first time since undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in September 2023. For Ohtani, the moment represents more than just another checkpoint in his long recovery—it’s a symbolic leap back toward the mound, toward history, and toward the rare air he occupied as the most unique player in Major League Baseball.

Ohtani’s return to facing live hitters marks the first time in over eight months that he will simulate game-like conditions from the pitcher’s mound. Since the 2023 injury, which ended his season on the mound and raised renewed questions about the long-term sustainability of his two-way excellence, Ohtani has remained committed to a deliberate, structured rehab plan. That plan has been guided by medical experts, Dodgers trainers, and Ohtani’s personal team, all working in concert to ensure that the Japanese superstar has every opportunity to pitch again in 2025.

The excitement around Ohtani’s return to mound activity has been steadily building throughout the 2024 season. While he continues to shine as a designated hitter—already one of the league’s most dangerous sluggers this season—his presence on the mound has been sorely missed by fans, teammates, and front office executives alike. When healthy, Ohtani has been among the most dominant pitchers in the game, with a combination of velocity, movement, and deception that few arms in the league can rival.

Now, as he prepares to throw to live batters for the first time in this phase of his rehabilitation, the baseball world is once again watching. Not just because Ohtani is an elite player, but because he is the embodiment of what’s possible—someone whose talent and determination continue to push the boundaries of what a single athlete can achieve in a sport built on specialization.

For the Dodgers, the decision to allow Ohtani to face hitters at this stage signals confidence in his progress and in the work done behind the scenes. It is also a reflection of how carefully the organization has managed expectations and avoided rushing the recovery. After investing $700 million in Ohtani over a 10-year deal—arguably the most ambitious and high-stakes contract in sports history—the Dodgers have every incentive to ensure that their franchise cornerstone is handled with care.

Ohtani’s surgery in 2023 was his second UCL reconstruction, a procedure that typically carries a longer and more uncertain recovery process compared to a first-time Tommy John. The fact that he is already facing hitters less than a year later is itself a testament to his resilience, work ethic, and the advancements in sports medicine. But more importantly, it speaks to his unwavering desire to pitch again at the highest level.

Throughout the rehab, Ohtani has remained vocal about his determination to return to his two-way role. Even after being advised that he could prolong his offensive career by giving up pitching, Ohtani has been clear that stepping away from the mound is not an option he’s willing to entertain—not yet. In a media session earlier this year, he said, “I feel like my best version is when I’m helping the team on both sides. That’s the player I want to be.”

That best version of Ohtani has already left an indelible mark on the game. In 2021 and 2022, he redefined what it means to be a superstar, winning the AL MVP in ’21 and finishing as runner-up the following year. In 2023, before the injury cut his season short, Ohtani was the clear favorite for MVP once again, boasting a 3.14 ERA with 167 strikeouts over 132 innings pitched, while simultaneously leading the league in home runs for much of the season. It was a historic display of dominance that hasn’t been seen since the days of Babe Ruth—and arguably surpasses even that.

This weekend’s simulated game at Citi Field may not carry the stakes or spotlight of a postseason appearance, but make no mistake: it is one of the most anticipated moments of the 2024 season for Dodgers fans and baseball enthusiasts alike. The process of returning from a second Tommy John surgery is complex and often winding, but facing hitters is an unmistakable sign of progress. It’s the moment when bullpen sessions and flat-ground work give way to real competition—where adrenaline, timing, and mechanics are tested under more natural conditions.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been measured but optimistic when discussing Ohtani’s progress, noting that the team has been pleased with his throwing program and the increasing intensity of his bullpen sessions. “Shohei’s been doing everything right,” Roberts said earlier this week. “This next step is important, and we’re all excited to see him get to that point.”

Roberts’ comments reflect not only hope, but the strategic balancing act the Dodgers must manage as they pursue a World Series title. While Ohtani has delivered as a hitter—batting well over .300 with elite power and on-base numbers—his eventual return to the mound could fundamentally alter the team’s ceiling. A healthy Ohtani pitching in 2025 would allow the Dodgers to restructure their rotation, deploy their resources more efficiently, and potentially dominate the league in ways they never have before.

In the meantime, Ohtani’s presence in the dugout, clubhouse, and batting order continues to elevate the Dodgers. His work ethic, quiet intensity, and laser-focused commitment have earned him universal respect from teammates. Veteran players have often remarked that his ability to navigate the demands of a two-way role without ever appearing fatigued or distracted is nothing short of extraordinary.

Still, Ohtani has never been one to linger in comfort. Even while rehabbing, he’s constantly seeking to improve—tinkering with his mechanics, studying film, and looking for the slightest edge. That same mindset has fueled his rapid progression from injury back to near-readiness, and it’s what will carry him through the next few stages of this comeback.

What comes next after Saturday remains to be seen. Depending on how Ohtani responds to the live session, the Dodgers may increase the frequency and volume of simulated games. A return to minor league rehab appearances could follow, though the organization has not placed a public timetable on his pitching return. The most realistic scenario is that Ohtani remains a full-time DH for the remainder of the 2024 season while targeting spring training in 2025 for a formal return to pitching in competitive games.

And yet, the significance of this weekend cannot be overstated. Every step of Ohtani’s rehab has been monitored closely, but facing hitters is different. It’s an emotional milestone. It’s a confidence-builder. It’s a signal—to his body, to the team, and to the baseball world—that he’s inching closer to doing what only he can do.

The broader baseball community has grown used to Ohtani doing the impossible. But even for him, returning to the mound after two major elbow surgeries is no small feat. The risks are real. The odds are long. But the rewards? They’re massive.

A fully healthy Ohtani, back on the mound and in the lineup, is a generational weapon. A marvel. A blueprint for what the future of baseball might look like in an era increasingly defined by versatility and power. The Dodgers knew this when they made their record-shattering investment. And Ohtani knows it too, which is why every pitch he throws this weekend will be watched with eager, hopeful eyes.

As Saturday approaches, all attention will turn to that bullpen mound at Citi Field. There will be no fanfare, no lights, no walk-up music. Just Ohtani, his catcher, a few teammates watching nearby—and the first live swings he’s seen since last September. It’s a quiet but critical moment, marking the beginning of the next chapter in one of the most extraordinary careers baseball has ever seen.

Because if Shohei Ohtani can make it back—again—from the very injury that’s ended so many great pitchers’ careers, there’s no telling where his story will go next. What is clear is that baseball is better, more beautiful, and more breathtaking when he’s at his best. And this weekend, for the first time in a long time, the mound awaits.