If you tuned into a Dodgers game last summer expecting to see Shohei Ohtani blowing 100-mph fastballs past hitters, you were probably a bit confused. Or maybe just a little disappointed. It’s the question that dominated every sports bar conversation from Echo Park to Tokyo: is Shohei Ohtani pitching in 2024?
The short answer? No. Not even a little bit.
Despite the $700 million contract and the "two-way phenom" label that follows him everywhere, Ohtani spent the entire 2024 season with his feet planted firmly in the batter's box. He didn't throw a single competitive pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Not in the regular season, and—despite some wild rumors that wouldn't die—not in the World Series either.
Why the Mound Stayed Empty for Ohtani in 2024
Baseball can be cruel. In late August 2023, while he was still wearing Angels red, Ohtani felt that dreaded "twinge." It turned out to be a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. This wasn't his first rodeo with elbow issues; he’d already had Tommy John surgery back in 2018.
By September 2023, he was under the knife again.
The procedure, performed by the famous Dr. Neal ElAttrache, wasn't a "traditional" Tommy John surgery. They called it a "repair and reinforcement" job. Essentially, they fixed the ligament and added some internal bracing to make it hold. But the timeline for a pitcher to return from that kind of work is long. Way longer than one offseason.
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So, when the Dodgers backed up the Brink's truck for him in December 2023, they knew exactly what they were getting for Year One: a designated hitter. A world-class, history-making hitter, sure, but a guy who wouldn't be touching a mound until at least 2025.
The Pitching Rehab that Happened Behind the Scenes
Just because he wasn't pitching in games doesn't mean Ohtani wasn't "pitching" at all. Throughout the 2024 season, Ohtani was on a grueling, meticulously planned throwing program.
- Late March: He started playing catch at about 45 feet.
- Summer Heat: By July and August, he was stretching it out to 150 feet.
- The Bullpen Phase: In late August, right around the time he was chasing the 50/50 mark, he finally stepped onto a mound to throw bullpen sessions.
It was a strange sight. He’d spend his afternoon throwing 30-40 pitches in the bullpen under the watchful eyes of trainers, then walk into the dugout, grab a bat, and hit a 450-foot home run. Honestly, the workload would break a normal human.
That World Series Rumor Mill
As the Dodgers marched toward the World Series, the "Will he? Won't he?" noise reached a fever pitch. Fans saw him throwing hard in pre-game warmups. They saw his velocity climbing in practice. Manager Dave Roberts had to answer the same question every single day: "Is there any chance Ohtani pitches in the World Series?"
Roberts eventually had to be blunt. "There's no possibility, none whatsoever," he told reporters. The risk was just too high. Imagine re-tearing that elbow for a one-inning relief appearance and jeopardizing the next nine years of a $700 million investment. Not happening.
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What He Did Instead (Spoiler: It Was Historic)
Since he couldn't pitch, Ohtani decided to become the most dangerous offensive weapon the sport has ever seen. It's almost like he took all the energy he usually spends on the mound and funneled it into his swing.
You've probably heard of the 50/50 Club. Before 2024, nobody had ever hit 50 home runs and stolen 50 bases in a single season. Most experts thought it was physically impossible to do both in the same year.
Ohtani didn't just reach it; he shattered it. He finished the year with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. He led the National League in homers, RBIs, and OPS. He basically broke the game of baseball while "rehabilitating" a major injury.
Looking Ahead: The Return to the Mound in 2025
So, if 2024 was the year of the hitter, 2025 is supposed to be the return of the Unicorn.
As we sit here in early 2026, we can look back and see how that played out. Ohtani did return to the mound in 2025, but it wasn't an immediate jump back to 100 innings. The Dodgers were cautious. He didn't make his 2025 pitching debut until June, and even then, they kept him on a strict pitch count.
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He still touched 100 mph. The stuff was still there. But the 2024 "hiatus" from pitching was clearly the best thing that could have happened for his career longevity. It proved he could be the best player in the world even if he never threw another ball.
What You Can Do Now
If you're following Ohtani's journey and want to keep track of his progress as a two-way player, here is what you should watch for:
- Check the Statcast Data: Look at his average exit velocity vs. his pitching velocity. If both are high, his body is handling the stress.
- Monitor the Six-Man Rotation: The Dodgers often use a six-man rotation to give Ohtani extra rest between starts. This is the biggest tell for how his elbow is feeling.
- Watch the "Ohtani Rule": Remember that MLB changed the rules specifically so he could stay in the game as a DH even after he’s done pitching.
The 2024 season was a weird one for Shohei Ohtani fans. No pitching, no strikeouts, no 102-mph heaters. But in exchange, we got the greatest offensive season in the history of the sport. Not a bad trade-off, really.
To stay updated on his current pitching status, keep an eye on the official MLB injury reports and the Dodgers' active roster designations, as his role continues to evolve with every season he puts between himself and that 2023 surgery.