The decision is partly a matter of comfort, with Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto accustomed to pitching essentially once a week dating back to their time in Japan. It also factored prominently, the Dodgers believe, into their ability to land phenom Roki Sasaki this winter — like his countrymen, Sasaki is used to pitching on a once-per-week schedule.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have received a major update regarding Shohei Ohtani’s return to pitching, and it fits right into their long-term game plan. Ohtani, who had a second major elbow surgery, hasn’t thrown a pitch since August 2023.

The Dodgers are hopeful that the real challenge for Shohei Ohtani this year won’t be about his health, but rather his process of re-acclimating to the two-way role that made him a superstar.