GLENDALE, Ariz. — On Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani conducted his second bullpen session of the spring training period, marking another step in his journey to return to pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ohtani had previously completed his first bullpen session just last Saturday.

He is aiming to take the mound this season for the first time since August 23, 2023, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. After undergoing elbow surgery, the accomplished 30-year-old right-hander spent the entirety of last season focused on hitting while with the Dodgers. Despite this limitation, Ohtani made headlines by winning his third MVP award and became the inaugural member of the 50/50 club, achieving 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, all while helping the Dodgers capture the World Series title.

In addition to his elbow challenges, Ohtani is also on the mend from a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury sustained while sliding into second base during the World Series.

As a pitcher, Ohtani boasts an impressive record of 38 wins and 19 losses, accompanied by a 3.01 ERA over his five-year career in Major League Baseball. He has accumulated 608 strikeouts throughout 481 2/3 innings. Before his injury in 2023, he held a record of 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and achieved an impressive 167 strikeouts over 132 innings pitched.