Shohei Ohtani has already gotten off to a hot start at the plate for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he could also be close to returning to the mound as a pitcher, as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery.

After Ohtani took another big step in his injury return, Dave Roberts issued a strong four-word message.

The Dodgers have raced out to a 4-0 start early on in the 2025 campaign, sweeping the Chicago Cubs in their two-game Tokyo Series and winning a pair of thrillers over the Detroit Tigers.

Ohtani has once again been a key contributor for L.A., and he’s already got his sights set on winning another World Series. “Playing in front of these fans, and in this circumstance,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton after the Dodgers win in their home opener against the Tigers, “it did make me want to win.

Be able to motivate myself to win another championship.” Los Angeles already is considered a frontrunner to repeat as champions after winning it all in 2024, but they could get yet another boost if Ohtani is able to take the hill as a pitcher this season.

The two-way superstar threw a bullpen session on Saturday, but Roberts made it clear that Ohtani is not close to pitching just yet.

“Shohei Ohtani is throwing his first bullpen session since spring training but no timeline for his return in a game. ‘It’s a ways off,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says,”

Bob Nightengale of USA Today shared in a post on X. Shohei Ohtani is throwing his first bullpen session since spring training but no timeline for his return in a game.

‘It’s a ways off,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says — Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 29, 2025 Ohtani hasn’t pitched since the 2023 campaign after undergoing surgery, but he was still able to play at designated hitter for the Dodgers in his first season with them last year.

Ohtani ended up posting a .310 batting average with 54 home runs and 130 runs batted in, winning his third MVP Award, so it’s safe to say things went quite well.

While he isn’t close to returning to L.A.’s starting rotation just yet, Ohtani is leading off for the Dodgers at designated hitter as they attempt to complete their sweep of the Tigers on Saturday night.