The Japanese star will be returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation in the 2025 MLB season. Dodgers fans are eager to see Shohei Ohtani pitch from the mound at Chavez Ravine for the first time after he was unable to do so in 2024 due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

However, the Japanese superstar suffered a setback in his rehabilitation when he dislocated his left shoulder in Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees.

Shohei Ohtani celebrates with Dodgers fans! pic.twitter.com/VBFkPhL4ks

— MLB (@MLB) November 1, 2024

Shohei Ohtani hopes to pitch in April

When asked about his fitness by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Ohtani replied that it was “so far, so good. Everything is going well.”

The Japanese superstar hopes to return to the mound at the start of next season and be included in the rotation alongside Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell.

Even though the dual-threat’s recovery is going well, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he doesn’t think Ohtani will start the Opening Series in Japan against the Chicago Cubs to kick off the 2025 Major League Baseball season.

“I don’t think the left shoulder is going to have a huge impact on Shohei’s pitching,” Roberts said at the Winter Meetings in Dallas last week. “I think his right elbow is the biggest factor. I just think the question is when does he start pitching in major league games and how do we prepare him before then.”

Shohei Ohtani is a given that he will be part of the pitching rotation next season, but the Dodgers don’t want to rush his return to avoid a setback.

It really WAS as fun as it looked, Shohei Ohtani.

Congrats on another historic MVP campaign 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YXEbLtQBJX

— MLB (@MLB) November 22, 2024

The last time the dual-threat took the mound in the Major Leagues was with the Angels in 2023. Finally, in his last three seasons as an Angels pitcher, Ohtani posted an ERA under 4.00 and reached the 155-strikeout mark each year.