Ohtani’s throwing program paused as focus shifts to hitting

He has not pitched since July 3

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 81 min read

"Yes, he loves pitching, loves being a two-way player. But right now it just doesn't make any sense." Shohei Ohtani, Se Via @Alden_Gonzalez on X

What happened: Manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani has no timetable to pick up a baseball, though he stopped short of declaring his pitching season over. Ohtani returned as the designated hitter Sept. 7 after missing four games with left knee, right biceps and neck soreness.

Why it matters: The pause reduces Ohtani’s workload while keeping his bat available for the September run-in. Any 2026 mound return now depends on restarting his throwing progression.

By the numbers: Ohtani entered Sept. 7 batting .279 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs. Since the All-Star break, he has hit .250 with eight homers and 22 RBIs in 41 games.

What to watch: His recovery after regular designated-hitter duty will shape the immediate plan. The next pitching checkpoint is whether he resumes throwing.

Sources

@Alden_Gonzalez 2026-09-08T04:57:08.399851+00:00

CONVERSATION

Loading comments…

MLBInjuryShohei Ohtani

Follow MLB Intelligence

Real-time signals and analysis

@WireReportMLB

WR Pro

The day's sports, briefed to your inbox at 7am ET. Every claim sourced.

$9/month Free weekly newsletter →