Ohtani in Good Place Amidst Elbow Surgery Recovery

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reports no signs of anxiety or frustration from Shohei Ohtani as the star player recovers from his second elbow surgery and works through his pitching rehabilitation.

Ohtani has been restricted to throwing fastballs during his two bullpen sessions since restarting his ramp-up. Roberts indicated that Ohtani will have his full repertoire of pitches available before facing hitters in a game.

Roberts believes Ohtani is in a positive state of mind. The decision to focus on his recovery was a collaborative one, with the shared objective of ensuring Ohtani is at his best for the latter part of the season, including October.

Ohtani has not pitched in a game since August 23, 2023, while with the Los Angeles Angels. He previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 and is currently recovering from a right elbow surgery performed in September 2023. He briefly paused his pitching work to prepare for the season as a hitter before resuming bullpen sessions.

Last season, Ohtani served solely as a designated hitter, earning his third MVP award. He batted .310 with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases. Entering Tuesday, he had a .311 average with four home runs and five RBIs.

Roberts noted that the second surgery likely makes Ohtani more aware of the long-term perspective and his desire to pitch for an extended period. Roberts believes it's important for Ohtani to establish a solid foundation and feel confident in his recovery.

In other team news, left-handed pitcher Blake Snell will rest until Monday due to shoulder inflammation. Right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin is scheduled to throw on Tuesday and is expected to return in a few weeks.