The Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way star is only throwing fastballs in his bullpen sessions right now, but it's all part of a plan to have him ready when the Dodgers really need his arm.

There was talk that Ohtani could face hitters before the season started. Then he went a month without throwing a bullpen session.

Ohtani hasn’t pitched since August 2023 and is coming off his second elbow procedure. The Dodgers, fresh off a World Series title without him on the mound, have added arms like Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki, giving them more reason to stay patient.