Shohei Ohtani pitching rehabilitation upgrade Sliders and curveballs were added for the first time

The Dodgers have been cautious about Shohei Ohtani's pitcher rehabilitation, but progress has accelerated recently. Ahead of the team's series finale against the Rattlesnakes today, Ohtani added skates and curveballs to cowpen training for the first time. Since the start of the regular season, he has maintained a rhythm of mid-week light cattle pen training and Saturday high-intensity training, most recently completing a 50-ball pitch with a simulated break.

The Dodgers insisted that Ohtani needed to recover all of his ball to get to the batter-facing stage, and that goal seemed imminent. Head coach Dave Roberts said: "He's stepped up his spins in tactile training, and the exact schedule is TBD. We look forward to further progress in training at Citi Field on Saturday. "

Asked if he would face the hitter, Roberts responded: "It's not yet certain. "

Ohtani hasn't been on the bench since undergoing surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament on his right elbow in September 2023, and last November's surgery on his left shoulder labrum further delayed offseason training, prompting Dodgers to adopt a cautious rehabilitation strategy. There is no timetable for its return to major league pitching, which is expected at least after the All-Star break.

"We have to be extra cautious after left shoulder surgery," Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, recently emphasized, "to make sure you're fully recovered before you pitch at a higher intensity." Consecutive pitches with injuries are not realistic. "

Once in the face-to-face phase, Dodgers will have a clearer assessment of the timeline. The team plans to help Ohtani adjust and prepare directly for major league games through a simulation game instead of a minor league rehab game.