Last updated: Aug. 9, 2026
The Dodgers have not announced Shohei Ohtani’s pitching return date. The source over at the MLB lists September as the expected window, with early-to-mid September described as the ideal scenario.
Ohtani restarted his throwing progression Aug. 8 by playing catch from about 90 feet. His next reported checkpoint is a catch session scheduled for Aug. 10. But still no word of a bullpen date has been announced.
Player statement — Aug. 5, 2026: “Rather than rush the progression of this, I would rather make sure we’re headed in the right direction,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. Source: MLB.com
Team statement — July 25, 2026: “He just doesn’t feel 100 percent. I think the last ‘pen that he had, there was a little bit of regression,” Roberts said. Source: MLB.com
MLB.com’s latest assessment stated that early-to-mid September is the ideal window because it would leave Ohtani time to build his workload before October. Fabian Ardaya also reported that Ohtani is expected to play catch again Monday before Los Angeles opens a series against the Kansas City Royals. This could be a good sign for Dodger fans.
The distinction matters, so remember that “early-to-mid September” is an informed estimate, not a return date announced by Ohtani, manager Dave Roberts or the Dodgers.
Ohtani has made his own priority clear. He would rather advance carefully than chase a date and lose more time to another setback. That caution is expected after his previous bullpen session appeared promising in the moment but did not hold up afterward.
Ohtani’s left knee first flared up June 11 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Imaging the following day showed no structural damage, and he continued to hit and pitch, but the discomfort became harder to manage during his starts than became worse during his appearance as a designated hitter.
The Dodgers scratched him from his final scheduled start before the All-Star break. He later received what the team described as a lubricating Orthovisc injection while using the break to get some rest. That decision also kept him out of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, a development Stadium Rant covered in its earlier Ohtani knee update.
Ohtani did try to move forward with a 30-pitch bullpen session July 22. Three days later, Roberts said the session had produced a degree of regression, so the Dodgers postponed Ohtani’s next bullpen appearance and stopped moving him toward the mound.
There is also a minor right biceps issue in the picture that has not made headlines. Roberts said the adjustments Ohtani made around his knee discomfort placed added stress on his upper half. The Dodgers have described the issue as tightness and have not announced an official structural diagnosis.
| Date | Development | What It Means |
| June 11 | Ohtani’s left knee flared up against Pittsburgh. | The issue began affecting how the Dodgers managed his two-way workload. |
| July 3 | He made his most recent start against San Diego. | Ohtani threw six innings and 110 pitches but reported right biceps tightness afterward. |
| July 10–12 | The Dodgers scratched his next start, and he received an Orthovisc injection during the All-Star break. | Los Angeles shifted from short-term management to a more cautious pitching pause. |
| July 22 | Ohtani threw approximately 30 pitches in a bullpen session in Philadelphia. | The session was a step forward initially, but knee discomfort returned. |
| July 25 | A second bullpen session was postponed. | Roberts said Ohtani would not advance until both the player and club felt fully confident. |
| Aug. 8 | Ohtani resumed plyometric throws and catch from about 90 feet. | His throwing progression restarted, but he had not yet reached long toss or a mound. |
| Aug. 10 | Another catch session is scheduled before the Royals game. | This is the next test of whether his knee can tolerate a steady increase in throwing. |
| 2025 Milestone | Date | Workload | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullpen session | March 29 | 20 pitches | MLB.com |
| First session against hitters | May 25 | 22 pitches across five simulated plate appearances | MLB.com |
| Third live session | June 10 | 44 pitches across three simulated innings | MLB.com |
| MLB pitching return | June 16 | One inning and 28 pitches | MLB.com |
Playing catch is the beginning of the process, but it certainly not the finish line. Ohtani still has to complete several stages without the knee becoming irritated again:
Each step depends on how Ohtani feels later that day and the following morning. The July bullpen showed why the immediate appearance of a session cannot be treated as proof that the knee handled it.
It’s clear why the Dodgers are being careful, the potential payoff is huge. The Dodgers have put a lot of money into this team and it’s fair to say it’s world series or bust for LA this year. Ohtani went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings across 14 starts, according to his official MLB player page.
In his final start July 3, Ohtani allowed three earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out nine over six innings against San Diego. He threw a season-high 110 pitches.
That start also makes his current role easy to misunderstand. Ohtani is not inactive or operating at 50% power. He is still an everyday offensive force while the pitching side is simply paused. Through Sunday, he was hitting .292 with 26 home runs, 71 RBIs and a .937 OPS. He is still dangerous and a big factor in the Dodgers success.
The Dodgers therefore have two separate situations they need to workout. They must protect the hitter who anchors their lineup while rebuilding the pitcher who could change the shape of a postseason series.
Los Angeles finished Sundays game at a strong 70-48 and held a 7 1/2-game lead in the National League West, according to the MLB standings. The division is not clinched, especially after that difficult road trip, but the Dodgers have enough cushion to avoid treating an August Ohtani start as an emergency.
It’s important to remember that the Dodgers rotation depth changed at the trade deadline also. Los Angeles picked up a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner in Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers, adding him to a group led by Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
Don’t get me wrong, Ohtani’s regular-season innings would help. But they are no longer worth forcing.
The smarter move is to get him healthy enough to offer high-leverage innings in October. An aggressive August return that creates another shutdown would do far more damage than waiting an extra week or two now.
Do not expect Ohtani’s first game back to resemble a normal six-inning start. MLB.com’s latest report said a multi-inning opener is more likely than an immediate return to a full starter’s workload. Makes a lot of sense.
That role could mean one, two or three innings at the beginning of a game, followed by a bulk reliever. It would let Ohtani face the top of an opponent’s order while the Dodgers control his pitch count and recovery time.
If we look at the good that could come from this, only if done correctly that is. This could also become a postseason weapon. Ohtani would not need to carry a full starter’s workload to affect a playoff game, a short burst from a pitcher with a 1.79 ERA can be valuable all on its own.
The role remains flexible because the Dodgers cannot set it until Ohtani returns to the mound and shows how quickly his command and stamina come back. For now, the clearest path looks like a September return with shorter outings, provided his knee gets through every stage without another setback.
When Will Shohei Ohtani Pitch Again?
Ohtani has no confirmed return date. Early-to-mid September is the most realistic current estimate, but it depends on his catch, long-toss, bullpen and live-hitter progression.
Is Shohei Ohtani on the Injured List?
No. Ohtani remains active because he continues to serve as the Dodgers’ designated hitter while his pitching program is rebuilt.
What Is Shohei Ohtani’s Injury?
The primary issue is lingering inflammation and discomfort in his left knee. He has also dealt with minor right biceps tightness, but the Dodgers have continued to use him as a hitter.
When Is Ohtani’s Next Bullpen Session?
No bullpen date has been announced. He must first stretch his catch play into long toss without renewed knee discomfort.
Will Ohtani Return as a Starting Pitcher?
He may technically start a game, but his first appearances are more likely to come as a short, multi-inning opener than as a traditional starter working deep into the game.
The next real clue will not be a rumor or a projected calendar date. It will be how Ohtani’s knee responds as the distance and intensity of his throwing increase.
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