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

Shohei Ohtani thinks he's ready. The Dodgers are not necessarily in a hurry to agree.

Per Sonja Chen at MLB.com, Ohtani said he feels capable of pitching "in a few days," but the club is deliberately managing the pace of his return to the mound. That gap between player confidence and organizational caution is the whole story here — and it's a familiar one for a franchise that has every reason to be careful with its most prominent arm.

What we know

Ohtani expressed readiness in his own words. The Dodgers, per the report, are taking a measured approach. No timetable has been attached to his return, and nothing in the material constitutes an announcement of a pitching date.

What remains unconfirmed

The specific nature of what's being managed — workload, mechanics, a particular physical threshold — is not detailed in the report. Whether "a few days" reflects Ohtani's genuine physical readiness or his competitive impatience is, for now, an open question.

The broader picture

The Dodgers are navigating a roster that has absorbed some turbulence recently. Andy Pages fractured his hand after being struck by a 99 mph fastball, with manager Dave Roberts indicating he'll be out approximately four weeks, per beat reporter Fabian Ardaya. The bullpen has also seen heavy usage, with Alex Vesia and Tanner Scott limited in late-game situations. Into that context, an eager Ohtani returning to pitch would matter quite a bit — which is precisely why the club appears to be in no rush to push him before he's fully ready on their terms.

For now, the most honest summary is this: Ohtani says soon. The Dodgers are watching closely.