Shohei Ohtani returns to Dodgers after WBC, expected to pitch once before spring training ends

Mar 17, 2026 - 01:25

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Shohei Ohtani returns to Dodgers after WBC, expected to pitch once before spring training ends

Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training camp in Glendale, Arizona following Samurai Japan’s loss to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic semifinals on Saturday.

Japan was expected to advance to the WBC final, if not win its second consecutive tournament championship, so Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto are back with the Dodgers a bit sooner than anticipated.

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Ohtani’s earlier return means that he will likely make one pitching appearance for the Dodgers during their seven remaining games in Cactus League play.

Shohei Ohtani is here (playing catch way off in the distance). Dave Roberts said he should DH in the next couple of days and throw a bullpen session soon. TBD when he pitches in a game, but the hope is he'll be stretched out to 3-4 innings for his first regular-season start. pic.twitter.com/x0BVUTqxpI
— Sonja Chen (@SonjaMChen) March 16, 2026

Manager Dave Roberts didn’t say when Ohtani could pitch. Had Japan made it all the way through the WBC, the hope was that Ohtani would have been able to pitch in the three-game “Freeway Series” versus the Los Angeles Angels that ends the preseason slate.

Now, however, he may pitch while the Dodgers are still in Arizona. Ohtani will likely throw a bullpen session first. The team hopes the two-way star will be stretched out enough to pitch three to four innings when he takes the mound.

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Ohtani threw bullpen sessions while with Japan during the WBC. However, he did not pitch in any games while maintaining caution while preparing for his first full season as a two-way player for the Dodgers since undergoing elbow surgery in September 2023.

Last Thursday, Ohtani threw four simulated innings facing live hitters during batting practice. During the outing, he threw 59 pitches, faced 18 hitters and had seven strikeouts.

The Dodgers’ intention is for Ohtani to be in their Opening Day starting rotation. That could be especially important with Blake Snell not expected to be ready when the regular season begins.

Yamamoto, the World Series MVP Yoshinobu, was announced as the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter as expected. Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki and Ohtani will likely follow in the rotation with Gavin Stone, Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski also expected to make starts early in the season. Top pitching prospect River Ryan will also be considered.