Shohei Ohtani and not required – doesn’t seem to be fitting, does it? As he strides confidently up to the plate at Camelback Ranch as another pitch comes his way, one question keeps lingering amidst the cheers: When will Ohtani return to pitching on the mound? Well, the Dodgers originally hinted at a May return. But with the end of spring training, that timetable feels increasingly uncertain.

And now, MLB insider Ben Verlander’s projection might just break your heart, but it’s not all ignorable either!

Even though Ohtani has excelled as a two-way player, the Dodgers do not require his IMMEDIATE services on the pitching staff, unlike the Angels. And that’s just what Verlander pointed out in his Flippin’ Bats podcast.

“The Dodgers don’t really need him in the rotation. You need Shohei Ohtani to be healthy for the playoffs (in October). The word was May—now is it June? The second half of the year? I don’t know, but they need him healthy for the playoffs, not April.” Yeah, it’s evident that the Dodgers are looking for the long run.

LA currently possesses a talented and deep roster of pitchers, including Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bobby Miller, and Gavin Stone. And then, add in Dustin May and Emmet Sheehan later in the year, and Ohtani’s return to pitching becomes a luxury. So, why rush if his arm is more valuable in October than in the dog days of summer?

When the time comes, Shohei Ohtani will pitch. But the more important storyline is whether he can win his third consecutive MVP award. His offensive production alone could keep him in the race. Since early spring training, he’s already hitting at an elite level, slashing .417 with an OPS north of 1.100. If that continues, only his bat can make him a top candidate for MVP.

Now, imagine a scenario where he adds even 8-10 starts on the mound! If he’s anywhere close to his 2023 form as a pitcher, that two-way value becomes impossible to ignore.

But as of now, the Dodgers don’t need Shotime to throw 150 innings this year—they need him to peak when it matters. If that means waiting until June, the All-Star break, or even till September to get him back on the mound, so be it. Because frankly, the team seems to be built to win without him pitching in the regular season, but when October comes? A healthy Ohtani on the mound changes everything.

But amidst all these speculations, there are certain assured aspects in the team! And one of the most intriguing ones is the personal dynamics between stars…

A special bond: Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s growing friendship

The emotions and connections from baseball often extend off the field. While last season, it was Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, this year, it’s Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. This nexus transcends their roles as teammates for the Dodgers.

When Yamamoto became a part of LA, Ohtani went out of his way to make him feel welcomed. He supported Yamamoto with his advice and built a friendship that’s now making headlines. Back in 2023, Shotime even joined hands with Freeman, Smith, and Betts to make a recruiting pitch to the then 25-year-old pitcher at the Dodger Stadium. And according to Yamamoto’s agent Joel Wolfe, that made the difference.

“Ohtani was so warm and welcoming to him…that I think it just added to his level of comfort that he knew he could walk into this clubhouse and have a teammate, a friend, Japanese-speaking people, to help him with his adjustment,” shared Wolfe. Well, now, it seems like Yoshinobu Yamamoto was open to being Ohtani’s sidekick, a mentee whom the two-way MVP assured, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me anything.”

Starting from the Tokyo Series, we have all seen Yamamoto shine under the bright lights of MLB. Guidance from his 4-year-older senior probably helped!

And Yamamoto has recently shown his admiration of this connection by gifting Shohei Ohtani a collection of custom ceramic bowls, including one engraved with Ohtani’s name and another for Decoy. Ohtani’s response?

A playful yet appreciative Instagram post: “A masterpiece from Professor Yoshinobu Yamamoto.”

From thoughtful gifts, sharing advice, or celebrating wins together, their friendship is something the MLB community adores. And as they continue their journey in Dodger blue, one thing is clear—this legacy is just getting started.

As they progress together on their shared path, this deep connection will probably have a whole new level of reflection on the ground!