Shohei Ohtani throws 34 pitches in Dodgers bullpen as he works toward a rotation return

Shohei Ohtani took an important step in his effort to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting rotation, throwing 34 pitches in a bullpen session at Dodger Stadium on Friday, according to Yahoo Sports. The outing was part of a progression as Ohtani works his way back to a role he has filled for the Dodgers in past seasons: a starter responsible for multiple innings and a lineup-wide planning factor for opponents.

The session was not a walk-up throw. Yahoo Sports reported that Ohtani began his first bullpen throwing session in more than three weeks, and that it took place with Dodgers leadership present. Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, and pitching coach Mark Prior were both on hand as Ohtani worked from a bullpen mound, a typical sign that the club is tracking the step closely and ensuring the mechanics translate from the bullpen to game situations.

For a two-way superstar whose pitch workload and timing have to be managed carefully, “first bullpen in a stretch” matters as more than a milestone date. Bullpen sessions are where teams test velocity, command, and how the body responds across the sequence of pitches. In practical terms, a starter’s return depends on whether the last phase of ramp-up produces repeatable results from pitch to pitch and from inning-like stretches to the next day, even when the session is shorter than what a rotation start requires.

The Dodgers’ choice to highlight the session underscores the role Ohtani plays in how they construct games. When a team has a player of Ohtani’s caliber returning to the rotation, it can affect everything from bullpen usage to the order in which matchups are targeted. A return also shifts planning for opposing teams that build their scouting on starters’ typical pitch repertoires and usage patterns, especially as late-season baseball turns more emphasis to matchups and leverage.

This was staged around a specific point on the Dodgers’ calendar. Yahoo Sports tied the bullpen session to the period before the team’s game against Milwaukee on Friday, suggesting the team is keeping Ohtani’s progression aligned with the immediate needs of the rotation and bullpen. While a bullpen throw is not the same as a game start, it is often a key checkpoint that determines whether the next step in the process moves forward.

Ohtani’s presence on the mound also carries weight for a Dodgers organization that has treated pitching development and injury management as central to its on-field identity. Friedman and Prior’s presence reflects that the team is not treating the session as routine cardio, but as an evaluation opportunity. Pitching coach involvement is a normal part of a ramp-up, but it also indicates that the club’s internal decision-making is closely tied to performance indicators from each throwing session.

At this stage, the most realistic “what to watch next” is how the team responds after this bullpen step. The usual follow-ups in MLB ramp-ups include additional throwing work, bullpen-to-game simulation, and then a decision on whether and when Ohtani can be slotted into a starting role. If the session produces clean feedback from the Dodgers’ staff, Ohtani’s path back becomes a scheduling question as much as a health question, with the organization weighing timing against the workload demands of the season.

For fans, the headline is straightforward: Ohtani is moving forward in his return process, beginning with a 34-pitch bullpen session after a break of more than three weeks. The nuance is the baseball math that comes with it. The next days will show whether this step leads to a true rotation restart, and whether Ohtani’s pitch command and stamina can handle the demands that come with taking the ball for real innings against live hitters.