Shohei Ohtani is a fan favorite and that is no secret. From his homers, to his pitching, the two-way phenom ready has the fans on their toes. They pay to watch Ohtani play, collect his cards, bid for the collectibles and also stand in line for 7-8 hours to get his bobblehead. That’s the kind of craze Ohtani has amongst his fans.  

Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million contract in the offseason, has made a name for himself as one of the world’s top baseball players and will continue to represent the Dodgers in the future. And this season, he has fulfilled that promise. The Japanese player is grateful for his fans everywhere and has expressed how nice it is to play in front of them.

In a podcast episode of Dodgers Talk with David Vassegh, Shohei Ohtani joined in. Ohtani said through an interpreter, “You know, I really had the chance to be able to play in front of the fans, so I really got to feel the passion and today just at the stage too, so it’s really nice to be able to interact with the fans and kind of feel their passion, and you know, to for the 2025 season. You know, we’re literally just about to start, so we have a lot of work to do, but again, really excited to be” 

This time the LA Dodgers are going to start the season at the Tokyo Dome, a place you’re very familiar with Shotime. How excited do you think the Japanese player is to wear a Dodger uniform and play in Tokyo? His response was, “So really excited to be able to, you know, play and hopefully we win a couple of games.” Shohei is Japan’s pride and joy and who wouldn’t be excited to watch their favourite come and play?  Especially when he could pitch this time, too!  

When will Shohei Ohtani be back on the mound?  

Ohtani fans, you do not have to wait long. Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound with the Los Angeles Dodgers could come as soon as May, according to manager Dave Roberts. Roberts made the announcement at the team’s annual fan fest on Saturday. Although along with this good news, comes sad news for Tokyo fans, Roberts also said that the two-way phenom won’t be pitching during the Japan Series against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, set for March 18-19.  

It’s a cautious approach as Ohtani continues his recovery from shoulder surgery, which he underwent in November after a dislocated left shoulder interrupted his stunning 2023 campaign with the Angels. Despite missing time, Ohtani’s progress is looking promising. Roberts shared that after seeing some recent training videos of the 29-year-old, it was hard to believe he had surgery just a few months ago. “He looks really strong,” Roberts said, hinting that Ohtani’s recovery is ahead of schedule.  

For Ohtani himself, it seems the timeline is falling into place, as he stated he’s been able to work out every day and is eager to hit the ground running once spring training kicks off next week. As the Dodgers gear up for camp in Arizona, all eyes will be on Ohtani as he looks to return to form, not just as a pitcher but also as one of the game’s most electrifying hitters. The Dodgers have been strategic in ensuring Ohtani is fully prepared for a mid-season return, giving the superstar every chance to regain his dominant role on both sides of the ball.