In the world of baseball, where legends are born from every swing of the bat, there’s one name that has redefined what power hitting means. Shohei Ohtani—once an untouchable force, a titan of the batter’s box—has found himself amid a struggle. His bat, once a hammer of destruction, has been silent this season. But is the 8-4 score against the Pirates offering a glimpse that says otherwise?

Before the second series game against the Pirates, the Dodgers were in desperate need of a spark, having dropped three straight games. It was also a chance for Ohtani to make a move after staying low-key this year. The night turned out to be about Teoscar and Enrique Hernandez. Both taking the ball out of the park. And it all began with Ohtani—the heart of the Dodgers lineup—reminding everyone that even when quiet, he’s only ever a moment away from changing everything.

Yes, Ohtani again got no homer in his name, but he got a triple, two doubles. Although the number doesn’t reflect someone like Ohtani, but still a roar of defiance against all odds.

“Haven’t been playing well. So, I personally think it’s nice to be able to hit it.”

Really? Well, till April 25, Ohtani has recorded only three hits in his last 21 at-bats. He was slashing .261/.358/.489 with a .848 OPS so far. Compared to that, last year, he was hitting .359/.419/.630 after the first 23 games! Hence, for Shotime, it was a slump.

But now, after the game against the Pirates, he seems satisfied.

While no ball went out of the park from his bat, the fans can still sense the impending storm from the 3 hits he took. Moreover, after weeks of speculation and mounting pressure, Ohtani finally unleashed the kind of hit that only he can. A screaming RBI double to tie the game in the seventh. It wasn’t just a clutch moment; it was symbolic. The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd—it was as if the slump had been broken with one perfect swing.

Now that he is standing with a .277 BA, 6 homers, 25 hits, and 8 RBIs, we might hope for an acceleration here on. Remember Ohtani’s comeback after that early slump last year? Even after hitting only 6 homers by April 2024, Shohei Ohtani finished last year with a unique 50-50 record. This year, too, he has all the possibility to shine again. And the cherry on top will be his return to the mound.

But when?

Ohtani’s wait to return to the mound might get longer

“Time of return, we’re still at a couple of months away,” Roberts said recently. “I know that’s still vague. We’re just trying to get to the next step and see where we’re at. Certainly expect him to pitch for us this year and through the postseason.”

Well, it speaks volumes about both Ohtani’s value and the Dodgers’ long-term vision. Rather than rushing Shohei Ohtani back to the mound, especially coming off of an elbow surgery, the Dodgers are laser-focused on preserving his arm for the moments that matter most: October. With their current rotation depth and Ohtani’s bat, they’re not desperate for him to pitch in the regular season.

So, it is highly unlikely that Ohtani will hit the mound until close to the All-Star break in July. While his hitting figures are all set to take a flying route, fans would need to wait a while to see him back as a two-way player. The only hope: Shohei Ohtani tossing a bullpen session with 31 pitches. This means he’s building up both strength and stamina steadily, even if he’s still sticking to just fastballs and splitters.

While we are talking about how Ohtani could make a comeback from his early slump, check his timeline to return to the mound. The fact that he jumped right back into mound work after paternity leave is the peak Ohtani. Locked in, even while being a new dad. Hence, if he keeps progressing like this, that mid-July return to pitching is looking more and more realistic.