Ohtani Plans Return To Mound After Bullpen

Ohtani is progressing in his return from a left knee injury, continuing with bullpen sessions and reporting a healthy knee as he eyes a late-season return. He is slated for another bullpen workout, with managers signaling that if it goes well he could move on to batting practice. Friday’s outing featured a 35-pitch session during which he threw his full pitch arsenal, a key step in his ramp-up toward game action. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also noted that catcher Will Smith is improving in his own rehab, and he remains optimistic that both players could be back as plans advance. The team has not announced a firm return date, but Roberts outlined a pathway involving another bullpen, a few live-batting practices, and then live game action—potentially starting with one-inning appearances. Ohtani’s return would restore his two-way contributions, though the timeline depends on his knee recovery and progression through the rehab plan.