The Dodgers are taking Ohtani’s rehabilitation slowly and do not expect him to pitch at the start of the season

Shohei Ohtani’s surgery moved the plans of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were counting on him to be the star on the mound in Game 1 of the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs on March 18, 2025, but after the left arm shoulder surgery he underwent, they will take the rehabilitation slowly and wait for him to be ready.

Ohtani underwent a procedure on Tuesday to repair a tear in the labrum of his left shoulder, an injury he suffered while sliding during a stolen base attempt in Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26. The two-way star did not pitch this year while recovering from elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023.

“We’re going to take it piece by piece and get through this and then do it in chunks of a week or two and make sure we’re in a really good place at each of those benchmarks and then go from there and not try to say, ‘Hey, we have to be ready for this day,'” general manager Brandon Gomes said Wednesday. “We’re going to let the rehabilitation process unfold.”

Ohtani was operated on by the team’s chief medical officer, Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

“The stages of rehabilitation have different exercises of lower intensity and may be just movement,” Gomes said. “Our trainers and physical trainers and doctors are all in tune with that and we will be with him on the road.”

Ohtani has stopped his pitching program.

“He probably would have shut down anyway with the offseason, but he needs to recover from this and then get back into shape,” Gomes said.

Brandon Gomes rules out Ohtani repeating 50-50
After signing a record $700 million, 10-year contract, the 30-year-old Ohtani hit .310 with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases this year, becoming the first player with at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.

“I think it’s safe that he’s not going to steal 50 bases next year,” Gomes said. “I have a hunch. I don’t want to rule it out because I never bet against Shohei.”

He also said Mookie Betts will likely return to the infield next year and that the World Series champions would like to reach a new contract with manager Dave Roberts, whose current deal runs through next season.