Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani threw his first bullpen of spring training on Saturday, taking a step toward possibly pitching for the first time since 2023.

The reigning World Series champion and National League MVP has not pitched in the big leagues since Aug. 23, 2023, with the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander later had elbow surgery that limited him to a hitting role during his first season with the Dodgers in 2024.

After throwing on flat ground earlier in the week, he was looking forward to being on the mound in a bullpen session.

The Dodgers have ruled out Ohtani as a pitching option in Tokyo, about 280 miles south of his hometown in Japan, when they open the season against the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19.

Los Angles manager Dave Roberts said he’s hoping “sooner than later,” Ohtani will be cleared to pitch.

The 30-year-old Ohtani said he threw a sweeper for the first time on Wednesday, mixing it with other pitches.

He is also recovering from a partially torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, an injury from sliding into second base during the World Series. Ohtani has been able to take swings during workouts, but acknowledged his range of motion is limited.

Ohtani played 159 of 162 games last season as the team’s designated hitter and won his third MVP award, while becoming the first in baseball to join the 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases.

Yelich thinks he’ll be ready for opener

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich says he will be ready for the start of the season.

Six months removed from back surgery that brought a premature end to a resurgent season, Yelich arrived in camp Saturday at full strength with his sights set on an even better 2025 campaign.

“I saw before I came here that I might be a question mark for Opening Day and I’m not sure where that came from,” the 2018 NL MVP said. “Unless something crazy happens here, I don’t see why I wouldn’t be ready.”

Yelich, 33, batted .315 with a .406 on-base percentage, .504 slugging percentage, 11 homers, 42 RBIs and 21 steals in 73 games last year before undergoing season-ending back surgery. His final game of the 2024 season came on July 23.

The hope was that the surgery would enable him to be ready for the start of this season while finally ending this lingering issue and preventing further extended absences in the future.

“Once we got in there and did the operation and found the problem, it was like, ‘This is probably not very good,’” Yelich said. “So, yeah, it’s kind of nice to be on the other side of it, and hopefully there are a lot less problems going forward.”

Briefly

Angels >> The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract with veteran right-hander Kenley Jansen and a $5 million, one-year deal with veteran infielder Yoán Moncada.

Mets >> New York right-hander Kodai Senga threw live batting practice on Saturday, and the team was encouraged by his performance coming off an injury-shortened season.

Nationals >> First baseman Nathaniel Lowe lost to Washington on Saturday in the final salary arbitration case this year and will get the Nationals’ $10.3 million offer rather than his $11.1 million request.