Shohei Ohtani, in massive step forward, is set to face hitters for the first time since 2023

NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani is about to take his biggest step forward in his ongoing rehab from elbow surgery. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar is set to face major-league hitters on Saturday during a live batting practice session at Citi Field, manager Dave Roberts announced on Friday. It will be his first time facing hitters since his September 2023 elbow reconstruction surgery. 

"We've seen the bullpens for quite some time," Roberts said Friday in the visitor’s dugout at Citi Field. "So to see him go out there and face some major-league hitters, we're all anxious for that."

The Dodgers were adamant that they would not clear Ohtani to face hitters until he threw his entire arsenal during a bullpen. So once he mixed in sliders and curveballs in his latest session on Wednesday, everyone involved in Ohtani’s ramp-up, including his doctors, felt comfortable that he was ready to move on to the next, and biggest, hurdle in his pitching progression. The Dodgers have been intentionally slow with Ohtani's throwing build-up after he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum on his non-pitching left shoulder last November. 

As of Friday evening, it was unclear which Dodgers hitters Ohtani will face on Saturday. In terms of how excited or nervous Ohtani is feeling about his latest obstacle, the Japanese phenom went through his usual pregame routine ahead of the Dodgers’ series opener against the Mets on Friday. 

"He doesn't tip his hand very often as far as emotions," Roberts said.

This will be the first time Ohtani will take the mound and pitch to major-league hitters since signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. An exact return date has not been set for Ohtani, but he’s expected to join