Shohei Ohtani Says He Feels Ready to Pitch 'In a Few Days,' Dodgers Managing Timeline

Shohei Ohtani told reporters he feels ready to pitch "in a few days" — which is the kind of thing a competitor says, and also the kind of thing a front office quietly files under "noted."

Per Sonja Chen at MLB.com, Ohtani's eagerness is real, but the Dodgers are managing his return timeline rather than letting his own read on his body set the schedule. What that timetable looks like in practice, and what benchmarks Los Angeles is working toward, remains unconfirmed.

What we don't know yet

The report does not specify what stage Ohtani is at in his progression, what the next steps are, or when the club expects to have a clearer picture. His return is being managed — which tells you the door isn't closed, but it isn't open yet either.

The broader Dodgers picture

Los Angeles is navigating a busy injury and roster period. Tyler Glasnow was set to return from the 60-day IL, and outfielder Andy Pages landed on the injured list with a left hand fracture after being hit by a pitch, facing a 4-5 week recovery per manager Dave Roberts. Ohtani's arm back in the rotation would reshape the club's options considerably — but for now, the timeline belongs to the organization, not the player.