Tue Jun 03 04:40:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Shohei Ohtani is making progress in his recovery from elbow surgery, recently facing live hitters from the Dodgers’ Single-A team at Dodger Stadium. He threw his entire pitch mix and felt good, although his command could improve. Dodgers’ top prospect Dalton Rushing caught Ohtani and was impressed by his competitiveness and stuff. Manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani’s ability to focus on both pitching rehab and his offensive performance, where he recently hit two home runs in a game. Ohtani will continue to ramp up through simulated games and is not expected to pitch in MLB games until after the All-Star break.

**News Article:**

**Ohtani Continues Pitching Rehab, Faces Dodgers Prospects in Live Session**

Los Angeles, CA – Shohei Ohtani’s recovery from elbow surgery continues to progress, with the Dodgers superstar recently facing live hitters at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani threw 29 pitches over two innings to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga hitters, including top prospect Dalton Rushing.

“You see how real everything is,” Rushing said, impressed by Ohtani’s competitiveness and the quality of his pitches after catching him. “It’s special… You kind of get to see where your own feet are.”

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani used his full arsenal of pitches and came away feeling positive about the session, although Roberts noted that Ohtani desired better command. This positive step comes after Ohtani tied a Dodgers record earlier in the week by hitting 15 home runs in a single month.

Roberts also highlighted Ohtani’s exceptional ability to focus on both his pitching recovery and his offensive contributions. “I mean, he’s essentially doing the work of two players,” Roberts said. “And to still go out there and perform on the offensive side, it’s pretty remarkable.”

The Dodgers are carefully managing Ohtani’s return, opting for simulated games rather than minor league rehab assignments. While there’s no firm timeline, Ohtani is expected to require build-up to around six innings, making his return to the Dodgers’ pitching rotation unlikely before the All-Star break.

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