"I won’t let Shohei Ohtani throw until may"– Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Japanese superstar's 2025 two-way plan

Reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani helped lead the LA Dodgers to the 2024 World Series title. His role is expected to increase next season as he makes his return to the mound. Ohtani spent the entire 2024 campaign as a designated hitter after he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right arm.

The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a $700 million deal ahead of the 2024 season, but they knew they weren't getting the full package immediately. Ohtani will make starts again in 2025, but that won't be the plan to begin the season. LA manager Dave Roberts' recent comments could get some of the team's fans worried.

In Saturday's article from Hochi, Roberts outlined the throwing plan for the star pitcher.

"I won't let Shohei Ohtani throw until May," Roberts said.

If the Dodgers decide to keep Ohtani from throwing at all until May, the right-handed pitcher might not make a return to the mound until after the All-Star Break.

Shohei Ohtani helping Dodgers land more talent

Shohei Otani is enjoying his offseason after a great 2024 and he is also helping the Dodgers in their attempt to land another star pitcher from Japan. Roki Sasaki is looking to become the next Japanese player to make an impact in MLB, and he has had meetings with several teams. The LA Dodgers were one of those teams, and Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto reportedly joined the meeting along with team executives.

Sasaki could shock everyone by choosing to go elsewhere; however, MLB reporter Jon Heyman believes that he is going to end up with a team in California.

"The Mets could sell their recent pitching successes and the Yankees their long history of winning but it’ll be a shock if he doesn’t land on the West Coast," Heyman wrote on Dec. 26, via the New York Post.

The Dodgers have proven that they don't need Ohtani on the mound to win the World Series, but having him back in the rotation will make things even harder for the rest of the teams.