Ohtani was expected to be a hitter only in his first season with the Dodgers, but the team hoped he could resume the two-way responsibilities that made him a superstar by Opening Day of this year. That obviously hasn't happened, as a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder sustained in the 2024 World Series threw off his offseason rehab timetable.

Shohei Ohtani won National League MVP and was part of the World Series championship lineup last season, but he's also been recovering from major elbow surgery since late 2023. The former two-way superstar is nearing a return to being a current two-way superstar.

Per ESPN's Karl Ravech, "there is a growing feeling among Dodgers that Shohei Ohtani will return to pitching sometime this week" after not pitching for the last season-plus. Earlier this week, Ohtani threw 44 pitches across three simulated innings at Petco Park in San Diego, a major step towards making his return.