Shohei Ohtani is moving forward with his swing work while on the injured list, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a modest but meaningful sign of progress. The designated hitter has not yet advanced to facing live pitching or a pitching machine.
Key takeaways
- Ohtani has resumed swing activity during his recovery.
- The Dodgers’ designated hitter remains on the injured list.
- He has not yet taken batting practice against pitchers.
- Ohtani also has not faced machine-generated pitches.
A step in the hitting progression
The swing work marks an early checkpoint in Ohtani’s return plan, but it is not yet a full baseball activity test. Before the Dodgers can move him closer to game action, he will need to progress from dry swings into seeing pitches and handling the timing demands that come with live batting practice.
For now, Los Angeles is monitoring the designated hitter’s recovery while he remains sidelined. The next notable development will come when Ohtani is cleared to face pitching, whether in a controlled setting or against a machine.
