Ohtani’s First Bullpen Since Elbow Surgery Sparks Speculation—Is a Comeback Already Here?
Shohei Ohtani took another meaningful step Saturday, delivering a 50-pitch bullpen session that signals progress in his painstaking recovery from elbow surgery. It’s the kind of advance that fans and analysts alike have been waiting for, a clear sign that the two-way phenom is inching closer to rejoining the mound. Moving up from 35 throws in his last workout, Ohtani carefully simulated a two-inning stint, splitting the session into two 25-pitch bursts with a rest in between — though notably, he stayed away from sliders this time around. All this unfolded the same day the Dodgers welcomed Clayton Kershaw back to the rotation — a storybook return for the seasoned southpaw and a franchise legend.
On the offensive side, Ohtani took on the role of designated hitter facing off against the Angels — a team where he carved out a stellar pitching record of 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA, tallying 167 punchouts in 132 innings over 86 starts from 2018-23. Yet, despite those impressive numbers, it’s been since August 23, 2023, that Ohtani last threw a pitch in a major league game. The clock’s still unwinding on his comeback, with no firm timetable set following his September elbow surgery.
Meanwhile, Kershaw, at 37, kicked off his 18th MLB season after battling through toe and knee surgeries. With five rehab starts under his belt and a 2.57 ERA across 21 innings, the three-time Cy Young Award winner returned to the mound Saturday, reinforcing his legacy as the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout king with 2,968 Ks. His 212-94 record and 2.50 ERA over 432 appearances now put him shoulder-to-shoulder with Dodgers greats Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for the longest tenure in franchise history.
Roster adjustments followed accordingly — righty Ryan Loutos found himself sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make way for Kershaw, while Blake Snell’s shoulder woes landed him on the 60-day injured list. An offseason marquee signing at $182 million, Snell has been sidelined since only making two starts and hasn’t thrown since April 2 — though he’s recently begun light throwing in hopes of a return.
These moves and milestones encapsulate a pivotal moment for the Dodgers — one that blends comeback grit, veteran pride, and the relentless march toward a promising season.
Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani threw a 50-pitch bullpen session Saturday, another step in his throwing program in his return from elbow surgery.
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