Thu May 22 04:50:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a news article draft:

**Summary:**

Shohei Ohtani’s pitching rehab is progressing, though the Dodgers are taking a cautious approach. He recently incorporated sliders and curveballs into his bullpen sessions. His next step would be facing hitters. The Dodgers want Ohtani to be fully recovered from his UCL and shoulder surgeries before increasing the intensity of his pitching training. The exact timeline for his return to the mound is unclear, but it’s unlikely to be before the All-Star break. The Dodgers plan for Ohtani to build up through simulated games, not Minor League rehab starts.

**News Article Draft:**

**Ohtani’s Pitching Rehab Progressing, Facing Hitters Could Be Next Step**

LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani’s recovery from elbow surgery continues to trend positively, with the Dodgers star recently adding sliders and curveballs to his bullpen sessions. While the team remains cautious about his return to the mound, Manager Dave Roberts hinted that Ohtani could soon face hitters as the next major milestone in his rehabilitation.

Ohtani, who underwent a procedure on his right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in September 2023 and also had left shoulder labrum surgery, has been on a carefully managed throwing program. He recently threw 50 pitches in a bullpen session, and his next session is scheduled for this Saturday at Citi Field when the Dodgers play the Mets.

“He was spinning it a little bit more in the touch-and-feel,” Roberts said of Ohtani’s recent work. “I’m not sure what’s to come…but there might be a little bit more of a progression increase.”

When asked directly about the possibility of Ohtani facing hitters, Roberts remained coy, stating, “I don’t know…we’ll see.”

Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman has emphasized the team’s deliberate approach, particularly after Ohtani’s shoulder surgery. He noted, “We were just going to be a little bit more cautious and make sure that this got to a really good spot before we really started upping the intensity on the pitching side.”

While there’s no firm timeline for Ohtani’s return to pitching in games, it’s unlikely to occur before the All-Star break. The Dodgers plan to have Ohtani build up his arm strength and command through simulated games, rather than assigning him to Minor League rehab starts.

Ohtani’s progress continues to be closely monitored, and the Dodgers will likely have a clearer picture of his potential return date once he begins facing live hitters.

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