Good news for Dodgers’ fans: Dave Roberts gives injury updates on Ohtani and Betts “We were trying to remain positive”

Shohei Ohtani is ready to enter a new phase in his rehabilitation after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow just over 18 months ago.

Ohtani is preparing to take to the mound on Saturday when the Dodgers host the Tigers. It will be his first bullpen session since late February in which he threw at speeds of around 94 mph.

But the Dodgers have been easing the player back slowly as manager Dave Roberts explained on Tuesday. “Once he gets through the ‘pen on Saturday, then we’ll have a better idea of what a plan looks like. But also just appreciate that it’s his second Tommy John, getting ready for a major league season with the bat, with his left shoulder surgery... and really understand that this is a long-term play for Shohei’s wellbeing also. Making sure that we’re as cautious and careful as we possibly can. For 2025, the most important piece of this is having him be able to do both through the end of the season and through October.

Roberts cautious about Ohtani’s return to pitching competitively

“Given what he’s gone though, keeping his arm going, I think that’s kind of fair but I don’t know what that looks like as far as weeks and I’m not going to try to prognosticate. I think that it’s a fair take,” Roberts told reporters.

Those comments seems very positive considering that Roberts had originally earmarked May for Ohtani to return to pitching in full competition. The player was also upbeat when he spoke to the media in Japan, telling journalists that his throwing program was “going to plan”.

The was also news regarding Mookie Betts who sat out the recent Tokyo Series while battling a gastrointestinal illness that saw him shed 15 pounds. Betts revealed that he has been unable to keep solid food down but he is now on the road to recovery.

“I’m not exactly sure what it is. I don’t think anybody really knows… You go weigh yourself and you weigh 150 lbs. and before I left Spring Training I was 175... My stomach is, I guess, really aggravated. So it’s hard to just not eat, especially because you can’t come to work and just not eat,” Betts told People’s Vanessa Etienne.

Mookie Betts set to return

Dave Roberts said in Monday’s press briefing that Betts will return in today’s matchup against the Angels. “I talked to Mookie today and really encouraged,” the manager said. “Went through a full day today at Dodger Stadium. He hit, took grounders through, kept food down which was great and so my expectation is that he plays tomorrow.

Regarding Betts' stomach virus, he added: “I think it was getting to be pretty concerning because there really isn’t something to compare what he was going through. We were just trying to remain positive but was really disconcerting but I do think Mookie’s turned a corner - he says he feels great, so right now we’re in a good spot”.

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