Dodgers News: Shohei Ohtani to Face Live Hitters for First Time Since Surgery, Dave Roberts Confirms
The wait is nearly over. Shohei Ohtani is set to take a major step in his return to the mound, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Ohtani will face live hitters on Saturday — the first time since undergoing his second elbow surgery.
“He’s going to be out there on the mound, and he’s going to be facing live hitters,” Roberts confirmed to reporters. “It’s part of his progression, and we’re all excited to see it.”
There’s no formal rehab assignment planned yet, and the Dodgers are keeping the build-up flexible. According to Roberts, everything depends on how Ohtani feels after each session.
“A lot of it is going to be contingent on how he’s feeling. We’re taking it one step at a time,” he said. “Nobody knows exactly what the next couple of months will look like.”
Despite Ohtani’s famously stoic demeanor, Roberts hinted that even the two-way superstar must be feeling the excitement.
“He doesn’t tip his hand much, but I don’t see how he couldn’t feel it’s starting to become more real.”
Roberts shared that Ohtani’s bullpen sessions have looked sharp — easy velocity in the 94–95 mph range — and that his stuff is “calibrating really well.” While there’s still no official timeline for his pitching return, the Dodgers will continue to balance his pitching ramp-up with his offensive workload.
“If he’s feeling taxed, there may be a day he doesn’t play,” Roberts said. “We’ll be open to that.”
As for who made the call to begin this phase of Shohei’s return? Roberts smiled:
“That’s more Doctor Shohei driven.”
With a brutal stretch of 26 consecutive games against winning teams underway, the Dodgers could use the boost — both emotionally and eventually, on the mound.
“It’s going to be a good test for us. But seeing Shohei take this step? That’s a lift for all of us.”
? Stay tuned: We’ll have updates and footage from Ohtani’s live BP session once it happens.
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