Shohei Ohtani is swinging a bat again, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers an encouraging sign as they prepare for another postseason run.
Ohtani took swings off a tee Tuesday in Los Angeles, marking his first hitting activity since landing on the injured list. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the workout went well, although the team is not setting a firm date for the superstar’s return.
Instead, Los Angeles plans to gradually increase Ohtani’s workload and monitor how his body responds.
Ohtani has been dealing with right biceps inflammation along with a lingering issue involving his left knee. The Dodgers ultimately decided an injured-list stint offered the best opportunity for him to recover rather than attempting to manage the problems while keeping him in the lineup.
The four-time MVP has remained in Los Angeles while the Dodgers are on the road, continuing his treatment and workouts away from the team.
While there is still no guarantee exactly when Ohtani will be activated, the Dodgers believe he could get back into the lineup before the regular season ends. That could give him an opportunity to see major league pitching again before October baseball begins.
The timing gives Los Angeles some breathing room. The Dodgers have already secured their place in the postseason, allowing the club to focus more on Ohtani’s health than squeezing every possible game out of him during the final weeks of the schedule.
Before the injury interruption, Ohtani had once again been one of the central pieces of the Dodgers’ offense. He has produced a .277 batting average with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs over 130 games this season.
For the Dodgers, the priority now is straightforward: build Ohtani back up without creating another setback.
Tuesday’s tee work was only an early step in that process, but it was a meaningful one. If his recovery continues moving in the right direction, Los Angeles could have its superstar back in the batter’s box before the postseason arrives.
