Shohei Ohtani Injury Update: Dodgers Delay Bullpen Session Again Amid Knee Concerns

Shohei Ohtani's two-way comeback is hitting more speed bumps, and this time it's his knee holding things up. The Dodgers superstar was set to throw a bullpen session Saturday, but manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani "kicked the can" on it after his knee didn't feel 100%.

What Actually Happened

Ohtani hasn't pitched in three weeks, and the roadblocks keep piling up. He was originally scheduled for a 30-pitch bullpen session in Philadelphia on Wednesday, but discomfort during that outing pushed things back. The follow-up session, planned for Saturday, got postponed too. Roberts has been consistent in his messaging: the Dodgers aren't rushing this. "We're not going to move forward until he feels 100% confident, we feel 100% confident that he should do it," Roberts said.

That's a notably cautious tone from a team that knows exactly what's at stake with Ohtani's arm and legacy on the mound.

Why This Keeps Happening

Ohtani was in the middle of a legitimate Cy Young-caliber season on the mound before knee soreness started chipping away at his pitching schedule. For a player who's already battled a major elbow reconstruction and years of managing a dual role as pitcher and hitter, any lingering physical issue gets extra scrutiny. The Dodgers have been careful all season about not overexposing him, and this latest delay suggests the knee issue isn't a one-and-done tweak — it's something that's sticking around longer than the team probably hoped.

The worry here isn't just about missing a start or two. It's about whether this becomes a pattern that limits Ohtani's innings down the stretch, right as the Dodgers are trying to build momentum for another postseason run.

What Happens Next

There's no firm timeline yet for when Ohtani will get back on the mound. Roberts' comments suggest the team will keep pushing bullpen sessions back until Ohtani reports full confidence in the knee — not a specific date. For a Dodgers rotation that's counting on his arm as much as his bat, every delay adds pressure to figure out the pitching depth chart if Ohtani's return slides further into August.

Expect the Dodgers to stay tight-lipped on specifics and lean on "day-to-day" language until there's real clarity. Fans hoping for a quick fix should brace for a slower, more cautious return — the front office clearly isn't willing to gamble with Ohtani's long-term health for a short-term rotation fix.