This article was generated by artificial intelligence and is automatically updated as news breaks. All credit belongs to the original reporters and their publications.

Shohei Ohtani threw live batting practice on Saturday for the first time since sustaining the knee injury that has kept him off the mound since July, per the LA Times. The session was described as “really positive” — a significant milestone in his push to rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation.

This is the update we’ve been waiting for. Ohtani had been building toward this live BP session for weeks, progressing through his throwing program after what has been one of the more anxious stretches of his Dodgers tenure. He was previously reported to be set to face live hitters as his final step before a potential return, and now that box is checked. The fact that the session drew a positive review rather than any red flags is exactly what you want to hear.

Ohtani’s absence from the rotation has been felt in obvious ways. When he’s pitching, he’s one of the best in the sport — that’s not hyperbole, that’s just what the numbers say. Since arriving in Los Angeles, he’s been the kind of dual-threat presence that reshapes how opposing teams plan entire series. Losing him from the mound, even temporarily, forced the Dodgers to lean harder on a pitching staff that was already navigating its own set of health questions. We saw the front office strategically hold Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tarik Skubal out of the Coors Field trip earlier this week — a reminder of how carefully they’re managing their arms down the stretch.

The timing matters here. We’re in late August, the stretch run is fully underway, and every start from a frontline arm counts double. A healthy Ohtani on the mound changes the complexion of the rotation in a way that no trade deadline acquisition or spot starter can replicate. He doesn’t just eat innings — he dominates them. Getting him back before September would be a massive boost, both in terms of actual production and in terms of what it does for the confidence of this clubhouse.

Live batting practice is the final checkpoint before a rehab assignment or a direct return to the big league mound. The next step will likely be either a rehab start at one of the minor league affiliates or, if the club feels aggressive, slotting him back into the rotation on a limited pitch count. Either way, this feels close. The Dodgers have been cautious — and rightly so, given everything Ohtani means to this franchise — but the finish line is in sight.

I’d expect more clarity on the exact return timeline in the next few days. For now, this is simply good news. The best version of this Dodgers team includes Ohtani dealing on the mound, and we’re closer to seeing that again than we’ve been in over a month.

Source(s): Staff (LA Times) | First reported: August 22, 2026 10:50 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers