Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani expects he will return to the mound as a starting pitcher by as early as May of 2025.

MLB preseason, Shohei Ohtani's world took a 180-degree turn compared to 2024. Ohtani arrives as an MLB champion, along with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but also with a

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani qualifies as a two-way player in the eyes of MLB despite being unable to pitch in 2024 thanks to a change in the eligibility rule. The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal confirmed a player can now get two-way status on the basis of his usage over the past two seasons.

Despite not having thrown a single pitch since August 2023 due to a second major elbow ligament reconstruction, Shohei Ohtani already is qualified for two-way player status, a league official told The Athletic.

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.

Shohei Ohtani will face one key restriction on offense this spring for the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to manager Dave Roberts.

After a dominant offensive season, Shohei Ohtani is making progress in his pitching recovery, aiming to return to the mound in 2025 with the Dodgers.