Shohei Ohtani took another step toward returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, running the bases before the team's game against the San Francisco Giants, according to NHKニュース. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated Ohtani could be back as soon as the next series, NHKニュース reported.
Ohtani, who is on the injured list, has also resumed on-field work and took batting practice indoors, according to FNNプライムオンライン. The outlet quoted hitting coach Aaron Bates saying Ohtani is working at full intensity within the limits of his current program.
Bates also described Ohtani's condition in restricted terms, and 中日新聞Web reported that the problem is his arm rather than his knee, citing signs that appeared shortly before he went on the injured list. Those details come from the outlets' own reporting and have not been independently confirmed by CYBEV.io.
The news drew immediate reaction in Los Angeles, with Full-Count reporting that a "BREAKING" label circulated roughly 30 minutes after a Dodgers blowout win, and that the response in LA framed a return as highly likely. 読売新聞 also reported that Roberts raised the possibility of a quick comeback following Ohtani's base-running session ahead of the Giants game.
Ohtani's exact return date has not been announced. What to watch next is whether the Dodgers clear him for game action in the coming series or hold him back for further evaluation.