Dodgers expect Ohtani to return to starting rotation; President of Baseball Operations: The real issue is the knee

Los Angeles Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said he remains confident that Shohei Ohtani will eventually return to the pitcher's mound. Ohtani is still undergoing training to keep his arm in shape.

According to an ESPN report today, Friedman stated, "If it weren't for the knee issue, Ohtani would already be pitching and starting regularly in the rotation. We've been maintaining his arm condition. Is his arm 100%? No, but no pitcher is 100% by the end of July."

He continued, "What really needs to be addressed is the knee, to ensure compensation doesn't affect his pitching. I can't give an exact timeline, but I'm confident he'll soon resume playing catch, bullpen sessions, and gradually return to the mound."

Friedman added that while he cannot provide a definitive timeline, he is confident Ohtani will soon resume pitching and return to the starting rotation.

Ohtani's current role is primarily as the designated hitter and leadoff batter. Placing him on the injured list to give his knee more rest doesn't seem necessary. Friedman said, "After talking with Ohtani, the knee impact is probably minimal. We have to trust the doctors' advice, imaging results, and the player's own feedback. The results show he can continue playing without issue. Ohtani says batting is unaffected; the bigger problem is landing on his left foot during pitching."

Friedman's main point is that Ohtani will return to the starting rotation, but the timing is uncertain. "We are confident Ohtani will return to the mound, and his condition is improving, which means we're on the right track. So we have great confidence in his return to the mound."

Additionally, as the trade deadline approaches, front office executives across the league generally believe the Dodgers are the most likely team to acquire Detroit Tigers ace pitcher Tarik Skubal.

Friedman stated, "There are very few true superstars in the league. Whenever a player of that caliber becomes available, we will definitely be involved in discussions. We've proven in the past that our team is always very aggressive in this regard."

Friedman previously traded for Yu Darvish in 2017, acquired Manny Machado in 2018, and brought in Max Scherzer and Trea Turner in 2021.