Shohei Ohtani Throws Second Bullpen Since Resuming Mound Ramp Up

Shohei Ohtani threw a 26-pitch bullpen session Saturday before the Los Angeles Dodgers' game against the Philadelphia Phillies, another step toward his mound return.

Recovering from right elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023 , the two-way star threw his second bullpen session since resuming his pitching ramp up. He paused after his mound session on Feb. 25 to prepare for opening day as a hitter, then threw a bullpen on March 29.

He incorporated splitters on Saturday.

"It's a week, but then there's also the one in between, where he touches the mound on a Thursday," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "And I think it's just more trying to keep him on a similar seven-day program, and what the schedule would look like going out, and build from there."

When Ohtani is ready for game pitching, the Dodgers plan to use a six-man rotation.