When Will Shohei Ohtani Join Dodgers Rotation? GM Brandon Gomes Answers

Gabe Smallson | Mar 26, 2025

Feb 18, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) works with Los Angeles Dodgers assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness (87) during a spring training bullpen session at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers have completely retooled their roster coming of the franchise's eighth World Series championship.

With domestic Opening Day rapidly approaching, there is still one more major pitching addition on the roster that fans have yet to see take the mound in a Dodgers uniform.

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As hard as it is to fathom, Shohei Ohtani has a completely untapped aspect to his game Dodgers fans have yet to see.

The reigning National League MVP who became the first player in MLB history to slam 50 or more home runs and swipe 50 or more bases in a season on the way to winning a championship in his first season on a new team is still an ace-caliber pitcher when healthy.

Surgery to repair his UCL at the end of 2023 kept him off the mound in 2024, and preparation for his role as designated hitter ahead of the MLB Tokyo Series halted his process of ramping back up to his pitching earlier this month.

On Wednesday, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes provided insight to MLB Network as to when fans can expect to see the two-way star back in pitching action.

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"We're not really focusing on how many innings or any of that," said Gomes. "This process obviously is unique in building up pitching while also acclimating to games also coming off the shoulder surgery that he had in the offseason so were balancing a long of different things here.

"He's feeling good, he's throwing flat grounds right now and I think the most important thing for us is that when Shohei comes back, that he's feeling good, that he's able to execute his stuff at the high level that he's accustomed to and making sure that when he does come, we feel good about him running deep into the postseason."

When will Shohei join the @Dodgers rotation?

GM Brandon Gomes provides an update on Ohtani's throwing progression and the latest on Mookie Betts' return.#MLBNow | @SageUSAmerica pic.twitter.com/F98yGYcXmO

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 26, 2025

When asked if he expected to see Ohtani back in a regular rotation at some point this season, the general manager sounded hopeful.

"Yeah, that's the thought. Absolutely," Gomes said.

Ohtani's undeniable talent on the mound and in the batters box hasn't been seen to this degree in over 100 years, but if fans need to wait a little longer for his pitching debut, it can prove to be extremely worth the wait in October.

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