Shohei Ohtani‘s pitching return is beginning to look less like a possibility and more like an inevitability, after the Los Angeles Dodgers star lit up the radar gun during a live batting practice session at spring training on Tuesday.
The reigning face of the franchise, who has battled injuries that curtailed his workload on the mound over the past few years, showed no visible limitations as he worked through his throwing session.
According to The Athletic‘s Fabian Ardaya, “Shohei Ohtani hit 98 mph today in live BP,” a reading that immediately caught attention across the league. Ardaya also shared video of the right-hander loosening up before the session, underscoring how sharp Ohtani appeared in camp.
For the Dodgers, the sight of Ohtani nearing triple digits again is significant. He did not pitch at all during the 2024 season, and although he returned to the mound in the second half of 2025, his overall workload remained carefully managed. Even so, he made 14 starts during the 2025 regular season, finishing with a 2.87 ERA and a single victory as Los Angeles marched toward its second consecutive World Series title.
Ohtani’s impact during that championship run was felt both with his arm and his bat, reinforcing his status as the sport’s most unique talent.
While Ohtani remains the focal point of the Dodgers offence, the club has ensured he is far from alone. The front office has invested heavily to sustain a championship window, and this offseason brought another major addition in Kyle Tucker, strengthening an already formidable lineup.
Dodgers weighing rotation versus bullpen role
The central question entering the 2026 campaign is not whether Ohtani can pitch effectively, but how manager Dave Roberts will choose to deploy him. There is an argument for easing him into a starting role with measured innings, and another for leveraging his velocity and swing-and-miss arsenal out of the bullpen in high-leverage moments.
For now, the Dodgers are focused on progression rather than placement. Roberts has indicated that Ohtani is not expected to appear in spring training games before departing to join Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. That timeline makes coordination essential.
“I don’t know when he’s going to leave us to join Team Japan, but there’s still gonna be ample time for him to get his progression here with us,” Roberts said.
“To then, I’m sure [pitching coach] Mark [Prior] will be talking to the pitching coach over there and kind of, you know, stick to our plan and we’ll be in lockstep.”
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