Watch: Shohei Ohtani spotted pitching at LA High School amid offseason rehab

LA Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani showed some encouraging signs over the weekend. A video posted on Dodgers Nation on Saturday featured Ohtani in a pitching session likely at a Los Angeles-area high school.

Ohtani gingerly went through the pitching motions in what appeared to be part of his rehab program following his second Tommy John surgery.

Ohtani hasn’t pitched since 2023 after suffering an elbow injury that required another reconstructive procedure. The LA Angels shut him down, leaving him as a DH in their lineup.

During the 2023 offseason, Ohtani signed with the Dodgers but did not take the mound. While there has been speculation that he could take the mound once again, there’s no indication when that could happen.

If Ohtani does return to the mound, it remains to be seen if he’ll pitch as a starter or fill a role in the back end of the Dodgers bullpen.

This offseason, the Dodgers have bolstered their rotation with the addition of former Cy Young winner Blake Snell. Snell should anchor a rotation that includes a host of young, talented arms.

The rumored addition of Roki Sasaki could make the team's rotation the best in the Major Leagues. Sasaki could announce his decision soon so fans should stay tuned for updates.

Shohei Ohtani recovering from two surgeries

While Shohei Ohtani’s recovery from Tommy John surgery is still ongoing, it’s worth pointing out that he also continues to rehab from shoulder surgery.

Ohtani sustained it during the World Series against the New York Yankees. He got hurt in Game 2 of the Fall Classic while sliding into second base. Ohtani played through the injury but had surgery immediately after the season.

According to an article from The Athletic in December, Ohtani’s timeline was compared to Walker Buehler’s last season. If that’s indeed the case, the Dodgers could gradually build him up and he could be ready to pitch in late May or early June.

The Dodgers are careful not to rush the Japanese superstar. Ohtani is expected to still play primarily at DH, although he saw limited action on the field at first base.

The Dodgers will be hoping that Ohtani, along with Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and the returning Teoscar Hernandez, will be enough to catapult them to back-to-back World Series championships.