Shohei Ohtani Pitching Return Postponed Indefinitely After Friday Bullpen Setback
The Los Angeles Dodgers' highly anticipated plan to return two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to the pitcher's mound has been put on hold indefinitely. Ohtani was tentatively scheduled to make his first pitching appearance since July 3, 2026, in a one-inning start against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, August 30, 2026. However, those plans were scrapped after Ohtani experienced lingering discomfort in his left knee and right biceps following a shortened bullpen session on Friday, August 28, 2026.
During the Friday session, Ohtani threw only 20 pitches, which was 10 to 15 pitches fewer than his typical between-starts routine. He had previously thrown live batting practice against catcher Will Smith, but the total-body soreness and joint discomfort prevented him from completing the ramp-up.
Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman addressed the setback on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, stating that the team still hopes to have Ohtani pitch again this season, potentially in a postseason bullpen role. However, Friedman acknowledged that forcing the Sunday start would have "just felt rushed to us."
While some baseball analysts have urged the Dodgers to completely shut down Ohtani's pitching comeback to preserve his health and maximize his offensive contribution for a deep World Series run, manager Dave Roberts noted that the team has not yet made a definitive decision on a season-long shutdown. Ohtani has been spectacular at the plate this year, slashing .283/.383/.535 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs.