Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pitched a three-inning simulated game on Tuesday, increasing optimism about his return to the mound in the major leagues.

Asked whether Ohtani could pitch for the team before the All-Star break, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the chances are “north of zero.”

Roberts added, “It’s tempting. I’m sure Shohei feels tempted to just kind of rip the Band-Aid off and get into a big-league game. But I think we’re doing a good job of being patient. And truth be told, I don’t think anyone knows the right time to get him in a big-league game. We’re still being very careful, I guess.”

Ohtani last pitched in the majors in August 2023 before undergoing his second Tommy John surgery a month later.

The Tuesday work marked the third time Ohtani had thrown from the mound against batters, and he fired 44 pitches. The prior time, on May 31, he tossed 29 pitches.

According to MLB.com, Ohtani allowed just one hit and one walk in his three innings on Tuesday.

While he works to return to pitching so he can again be a two-way player, Ohtani remains one of the majors’ top hitters. Entering the Tuesday game against the Padres, Ohtani was batting .291 with a .387 on-base percentage, a .628 slugging percentage, a National League-leading 23 homers and 39 RBIs.

Ohtani won NL Most Valuable Player honors last year after serving strictly as a designated hitter, as he led the league with 54 homers, 130 RBIs, a .390 on-base percentage and a .646 slugging percentage while stealing 59 bases.

For good measure, he helped the Dodgers win the World Series last fall.

Ohtani was the American League MVP in both 2021 and 2023 for the Los Angeles Angels when he was superb as both a pitcher and a hitter.

For his career on the mound, Ohtani is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA in 86 starts.

–Field Level Media