Dodgers Insider Provides Insight into Shohei Ohtani's Rehab Timeline

Yahoo

3 hours ago

Dodgers Insider Provides Insight into Shohei Ohtani's Rehab Timeline originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Shohei Ohtani's initial rehabilitation plan did not have him starting on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.
Advertisement
He was initially set to make his first pitching appearance since 2023 after this year's All-Star break. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts then told reporters there was a "north of zero" chance he could return before mid-July.
Finally, the news broke late on Sunday night that Ohtani would once again grace an MLB mound in less than 24 hours in the Dodgers' series opener against the San Diego Padres.
The move made sense. Ohtani could not go on a traditional rehab assignment – making a few starts in the minor leagues, or even heading to the team's training complex in Arizona for extra work – because it would leave the Dodgers without his potent bat in the lineup.
The true reasoning for Ohtani's accelerated timeline, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez, came down to the trust Ohtani had in his own body and, in turn, the Dodgers' trust in Ohtani.
Advertisement
"They feel like he's so attunely aware of what his body requires and what he needs on a given day, and he's the only one who has ever done this, that there's a trust there," Gonzalez said on Dodgers Territory. "If Shohei Ohtani ultimately told them, 'Look, these sim games are really taxing on my body. I'd rather just do it in a Major League game,' I think they trust him to do it responsibly."
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) enters the dugout after warming up for the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Gonzalez was told by Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior that the club's original plan was to have Ohtani pitch in simulated games until he could reach the 60-to-70-pitch range before putting him into a regular-season contest. According to Gonzalez, Ohtani threw 44 pitches in his most recent simulated game before Monday's start.
"The Dodgers were adamant, from their perspective, that they didn't want to rush this, regardless of how many pitchers were injured. They were going to just try to absorb this stretch and try to get through it until Blake Snell comes back, until Tyler Glasnow comes back," Gonzalez said.
Advertisement
"They felt like it was so important for his two-way future, for his chances of being an effective pitcher for years hereafter – not just in this one – that he built up enough endurance, that he strengthened the muscles around his elbow."
Gonzalez acknowledged that the Dodgers still have issues regarding the management of their pitchers, given that so many of their starters are hurt. But he believes Ohtani was the source behind his own quick return.
"They keep having to do these bullpen games. Their relievers lead the majors in innings. This is not sustainable, but I don't know that they wanted that to guide the Ohtani part of it," Gonzalez said. "I think it was Shohei Ohtani sort of driving this himself."
Advertisement
Related: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Could Break Babe Ruth Record
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.