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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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Shohei Ohtani won the National League Most Valuable Player Award and led the Los Angeles Dodgers to a championship in 2024 — all while recovering from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow.
The elbow rehabilitation did nothing to impede Ohtani's prowess at the plate. But it limited him to designated hitter duties, as he has yet to throw his first pitch since signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in Dec. 2023.
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Although Ohtani had progressed to throwing bullpens by the end of the season, he was a long way from being able to face batters in a game. A new report suggests the same will be true when the 2025 season kicks off.
As reported by Japanese outlet Hochi News, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he's targeting a May return for Ohtani.
Ohtani had a career year as a hitter in 2024, leading the National League in home runs (54), RBIs (130), on-base percentage (.390) and slugging percentage (.646) while stealing 59 bases — the first 50-50 season in baseball history.
Before an elbow injury ended his 2023 season with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani was among the best pitchers in the American League. He went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts across 132 innings. He won the American League MVP award that year, too.
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Given the breadth of his two-way talents, it's understandable that the Dodgers would have a hard time holding back Ohtani from pitching. Yet they also have one of the deepest starting rotations in the National League after adding free agent Blake Snell to a group that includes Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and projects to add Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May after the two right-handers missed all of 2024 with injuries.
The Dodgers are also in the market for Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, who will sign no sooner than Jan. 15, the beginning of the 2025 international amateur signing period. Free agent Clayton Kershaw has also said he will return to the Dodgers after a bone spur in his left big toe ended his 2024 season prematurely.
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A May debut would give Ohtani a full four months this season to prepare for October as the Dodgers look to become the first team since the 1999-2000 New York Yankees to win championships in consecutive seasons.
Roberts previously indicated Ohtani would not be expected to pitch when the Dodgers begin their 2025 season in March in Japan against the Chicago Cubs.
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