Ohtani ramps up hitting progression: Why Dave Roberts is bullish on star's October return
The Dodgers star is progressing, but he still has important hurdles to clear before returning to game action
Shohei Ohtani’s path back to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup is becoming clearer, and manager Dave Roberts has provided another encouraging sign as the club prepares for October.
Ohtani took coach-pitch batting practice Friday after beginning his hitting progression with tee work earlier in the week. The Dodgers’ four-time MVP remains on the 15-day injured list with left-knee and right-biceps issues, but his recent activity has given the club reason for optimism.
Roberts said Ohtani came through the latest workout well and described the past several days as productive. However, the manager stressed that the slugger hasn’t yet advanced to live batting practice or work with the Trajekt pitching simulator.
“He came out of it well,” Roberts said. “I think for me, I'm just really waiting to hear when he's going to get on the field, let alone take live BP or Trajekt.
“And he's not there yet. But everything I've heard, it's been a really productive last three to four to five days. He's in a good spot.”
Before Ohtani returns to game action, Roberts wants him to face roughly 10 to 12 at-bats against pitching.
That timetable matters. Ohtani’s IL stint was backdated to Sept. 8, making Sept. 23 the earliest activation date. If he’s ready by then, he’ll have only five regular-season games to regain his timing before the postseason begins.
Dodgers’ offense keeps rolling without Ohtani
The Dodgers have managed his absence effectively, winning six of nine games and averaging 5.3 runs per contest during that stretch. Their latest victory showed just how much offensive depth remains available while Ohtani recovers.
Los Angeles defeated the San Francisco Giants 8-2 on Friday, with Mookie Betts homering twice and the Dodgers launching four home runs in the eighth inning.
Max Muncy and Kyle Tucker went back-to-back before Betts and Will Smith followed with consecutive blasts. Tyler Glasnow also delivered six innings with 10 strikeouts.
The performance underscored why the Dodgers can afford to be patient with Ohtani rather than rushing his return. Still, his presence would add another major dimension to a lineup already producing at a high level.
Before landing on the injured list, Ohtani hit .296 with 26 home runs and a .952 OPS across 110 games. He struggled over his final 24 games, batting .198 with a .690 OPS and 34 strikeouts, making the decision to pause his workload especially significant.
Ohtani’s return date remains unconfirmed, but the progression from tee work to coach-pitch batting practice represents another step forward.
With Los Angeles already having secured the NL West, the priority is getting its superstar healthy and ready to contribute when the games carry their greatest postseason significance.
