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Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani took the bullpen mound at Dodger Stadium, with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and pitching coach Mark Prior looking on, and began his first bullpen throwing session in more than three weeks.<\/p>\n
Friday marked an important step in Ohtani\u2019s throwing progression. He threw 34 pitches before the Dodgers\u2019 game against the Milwaukee Brewers, appearing to mix in different pitch types.<\/p>\n
Although Ohtani hasn\u2019t landed on the injured list for lingering inflammation and soreness in his left knee, he hasn\u2019t pitched in a game since July 3.<\/p>\n
After Ohtani received a lubricating Orthovisc injection in his knee at the beginning of the All-Star break, the Dodgers hoped he would pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 22. But as they monitored his response, it became clear he wasn\u2019t going to be ready.<\/p>\n
Edwin D\u00edaz has pulled a 2025 Tanner Scott and become a major liability for the Dodgers. They simply have to find another role for D\u00edaz in the bullpen.<\/p>\n
Instead, Ohtani threw a 31-pitch bullpen. But his recovery regressed, and he was shut down from throwing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, he wants to be healthy,\u201d manager Dave Roberts said earlier this week. \u201cHe wants to be there in the postseason. I think that did check him up. If you look at how we kind of paused things \u2014 we all want to be smart and careful. I\u2019m happy that we\u2019ve done that with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ohtani restarted catch play on Aug. 7. And after playing catch three more days this week, Ohtani and the Dodgers determined he was ready to throw off the mound again.<\/p>\n
\u201cRather than rush the progression of this I would rather make sure we\u2019re headed in the right direction,\u201d Ohtani said last week. \u201cMaking sure we\u2019re taking the right steps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ohtani is expected to go through a bullpen progression and then advance to throwing live batting practice \u2014 although Roberts said earlier this week he didn\u2019t know how many of each he\u2019d need before returning.<\/p>\n
The lightning-quick sale of the Lakers to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner comes as Mark Walter faces federal probes into allegedly conflicted insurance loans.<\/p>\n
Because the Dodgers want to keep Ohtani in the lineup, he\u2019ll have to build up in games rather than going on a minor-league rehab assignment.<\/p>\n
Ohtani did something similar last season, but then, he was returning to the mound for the first time since 2023 elbow surgery.<\/p>\n