Shohei Ohtani nears a pitching return for Dodgers, with an opener role potentially in front of Tyler Glasnow

Shohei Ohtani could be close to returning to pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Yahoo Sports reporting that he is “on the verge” of making the return as an opener in front of Tyler Glasnow. The approach suggests the Dodgers intend to manage workload carefully, using a short, targeted outing rather than treating Ohtani’s comeback as a traditional starting role.

The plan mirrors how the Dodgers handled Ohtani’s pitching return last year following internal brace surgery. That prior comeback was also framed as incremental, according to the same report, and it set a precedent for how Los Angeles is likely to protect his arm and ramp him up in phases.

In opener usage, the early inning responsibilities can shift the structure of a game. If Ohtani is used as an opener behind a specific pitching talent such as Glasnow, the Dodgers can preserve innings for both pitchers while maintaining leverage at the times they most want specific matchups. For the hitter who became a two-way centerpiece in the sport, that kind of role can also limit how frequently he is asked to operate at full game intensity.

Tyler Glasnow, long valued by Los Angeles for his ability to miss bats and control pitch shape, is referenced in the report as the man who would follow Ohtani if the opener plan holds. Glasnow’s presence matters because it indicates the Dodgers are not simply trying to “get Ohtani out there,” but rather to integrate his return into a broader pitching plan rather than forcing a compromise later in the outing.

Even with optimism surrounding a potential return, the reporting is careful about the pace. The emphasis on “baby steps” indicates the Dodgers may continue to treat any pitching appearance as a measured step, with the ability to adjust if Ohtani’s response is not exactly what the team wants. In MLB comebacks from surgery, the most important data typically arrives through subsequent workouts and how the arm responds over time, not only from one appearance.

For Dodgers fans, the immediate question is not whether Ohtani can pitch, but what the role becomes if the return proceeds. If he is deployed strictly as an opener, his innings could remain limited while still providing the club an additional pitching option. If his outing expands, the Dodgers would have to reconcile that with how their bullpen is being used in late-season games and how they want to structure matches around their rotation.

The next watch items are straightforward. Whether Ohtani is actually scheduled to pitch as reported, how many pitches he throws, and how quickly the Dodgers expand or contract his responsibilities after that outing will indicate how confident the team is in the stage of his comeback. For now, the takeaway is that Los Angeles is pursuing a controlled return that keeps Glasnow’s function intact while giving Ohtani an opportunity to re-enter the pitching picture in a limited, specific way.