Regarding the timing of Shohei Ohtani (31)'s return to the mound, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts vowed not to take the mound until May. Roberts plans to check his physical condition until at least May before putting him in the starting rotation.

According to Japanese sports media such as Sports Hochi on the 6th, Roberts said in a recent interview with local media that Otani will not be allowed to pitch until May, hinting at the possibility of returning to the mound after the All-Star break (July).안전놀이터

Roberts, who led the club to win the World Series last year, plans to use Ohtani as a key resource for the postseason rather than the 2025 regular season. "I look forward to Otani taking the mound in the postseason in good health," he said, adding, "If he returns as a pitcher, there will be no limited innings of pitching."

Roberts' remarks dismiss some predictions that Ohtani could take the mound as a starting pitcher in the opening game of the 2025 season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome, Japan, on March 18-19.

Ohtani, who made his big league debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, continued pitching and hitting, creating a sensation. However, he underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2023 season, and since moving to the Dodgers last year, he has played as a batter.

Ohtani, who put down his main job as a pitcher, opened the era of "50 homers - 50 steals" (54 homers, 59 steals) for the first time in MLB history last year, and spent the best year in the National League, leading the team to win the World Series and being selected as the MVP with a "all-out" opinion.