Ohtani likely won't be ready to pitch to start 2025 after shoulder surgery

The Los Angeles Dodgers aren't anticipating Shohei Ohtani will be able to make a return to the mound to begin next season after the superstar underwent shoulder surgery Tuesday on his non-throwing arm.

The Dodgers will monitor his recovery throughout the offseason and spring training, which means he won't likely pitch during the club's two-game series against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo on March 18-19.

"We're going to take it piece by piece and get through this, and then take it in one-, two-week chunks and make sure that we're in a really good place on each of those benchmarks, and then go from there and not try to say, 'Hey, we need to be ready by this day,"' general manager Brandon Gomes said Wednesday, according to Ronald Blum of The Associated Press. "We're going to let the rehab process play out."

Ohtani, who's the NL MVP favorite after an unprecedented 54-homer, 59-steal campaign, underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a labrum tear that was sustained when he dislocated his left shoulder on a stolen-base attempt in Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26.

"I think it's safe that he will not steal 50 bases next year," Gomes added. "I have a hunch. I don't want to count it out because I don't ever bet against Shohei."

Ohtani hasn't pitched in the majors since September 2023 following elbow surgery. The 30-year-old two-way sensation did take part in a throwing program in August and September of this season.