Shohei Ohtani offered the latest details on his knee recovery Wednesday night after powering the Los Angeles Dodgers with two home runs in a hard-fought contest against the Chicago Cubs.
The two-way star connected for a pair of long balls, yet the Dodgers still fell 7-6 at Wrigley Field. The defeat completed a second straight series sweep and stretched Los Angeles’ losing streak to six games.
Ohtani has remained a consistent force at the plate throughout the skid. His knee issue, however, has kept him off the mound since July 3. Manager Dave Roberts has taken a measured approach with the injury, prioritizing long-term health over a quick return.
After the game, Ohtani addressed the progress of his recovery through an interpreter. He declined to set a firm timeline for resuming throwing sessions.
“It’s getting pretty good, day-by-day,” Ohtani said. “It’s hard to tell at this point what the schedule’s going to look like because first I need to do plyos and then go into long toss and then go into bullpen progression. So rather than rush the progression of this, I want to make sure that we’re heading in the right direction and taking the right steps.”
The cautious outlook reflects the high stakes for both player and club. Ohtani’s dual role as hitter and pitcher has defined his value, and any setback could complicate the Dodgers’ late-season push.
On offense this year, Ohtani is batting .297 with 120 hits in 404 at-bats. He has launched 26 home runs and driven in 70 runs while posting a .554 slugging percentage and a .953 OPS.
Those numbers place him firmly in the conversation for National League MVP honors, even without his pitching contributions. Before the knee injury limited him, Ohtani had also built a strong case for Cy Young consideration.
He logged 85.2 innings across 14 starts, compiling an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA. Ohtani struck out 95 batters and maintained a 0.95 WHIP during that span.
The Dodgers, back-to-back World Series champions, have leaned heavily on his production at the plate while waiting for his arm to return. The recent six-game slide has tested that reliance, as the club searches for ways to regain momentum.
Roberts and the training staff continue monitoring every step of the rehabilitation process. Ohtani’s willingness to follow a deliberate path suggests both sides are aligned on avoiding further complications.
Fans and observers will watch closely for the next update. The sequence of plyometrics, long toss and eventual bullpen work remains the clear roadmap ahead.
Until those milestones are cleared, Ohtani will focus on contributing as a designated hitter and outfielder. His bat has already provided bright spots amid the team’s recent struggles.
The coming days and weeks will determine when the two-way threat can once again take the mound. For now, the emphasis stays on steady improvement rather than forced acceleration.
