The Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani are executing a meticulous strategy to keep his arm and fastball at 99 mph without any WBC in-game innings. This plan includes two live batting practice sessions during the tournament, higher-intensity bullpens, and a compressed ramp-up, ensuring Ohtani is ready to should a full workload when the 2026 season opens.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic has arrived, and Shohei Ohtani will not pitch for Team Japan. Yet, Team USA should still beware. The Dodgers are not missing a beat, deploying a sophisticated blueprint to ensure Ohtani’s arm remains at full capacity while he is away from Camelback Ranch.
From Conservative to 99 mph: Inside Ohtani’s Buildup Since Tommy John
Last season, Ohtani eased back onto the mound. His bullpens were light. His intensity was conservative. The Dodgers and Ohtani operated under a ’24-7’ safety first protocol. Now, one healthy offseason post-second career Tommy John later, Ohtani is throwing live batting practice sessions at full tilt. During his most recent outing on February 17, 2026, in Arizona, he reached 99 mph against teammates Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
- Spring Progression: Ohtani has thrown two live batting practice sessions so far, including 33 pitches over two innings on February 17. He incorporated his full complement of secondary pitches this spring, a contrast to last year’s fastball/slider/sweeper focus.
- Velocity and Intensity: Ohtani is dialing up the velocity, hitting 99 mph, according to Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior. This signifies Ohtani’s increasing confidence in his rebuilt arm.
“A lot of it will depend on where he’s at, what the logistics of everything are,” Prior said on Sunday. “But if we can get two more outings of him facing hitters, that would be ideal.” And so, the plan: prioritize preparation over competition.
The Smiling Hypothesis: Ohtani’s Toe on the WBC Mound
Ohtani’s competitive spirit is unmistakable. If Mike Trout strolled to the plate in the ninth inning of the 2026 WBC final, would Ohtani pass up the chance to repeat his 2023 strikeout? “I wonder,” Ohtani said, smiling. “If Trout comes out at the end, maybe.” A playful remark with real implications. It signals his confidence in his current physical state, even amid welter of precautions.
Japan to Tokyo to Miami: Logging Pitahs on a Global Stage
Japan opens the WBC with four games in five days at Tokyo Dome (March 6–10). If they qualify for the knockout round, Ohtani will fly to Miami for as many as three contests through the final on March 17. That’s a whirlwind schedule, and the Dodgers have already coordinated their strategy. They aim to slot in two live batting practice sessions on off-days during this span.
- Logistics Win: Dodger staff are tracking workout windows and logistical windows in Japan and Miami. The goal: ensure Ohtani still throws to elite hitters even during the tournament’s operaciones days.
- Pitch Mix Continuity: Prior noted Ohtani is already mixing his full arsenal in bullpens. This process continues abroad. High-intensity sessions offline are the bridge to full game readiness.
A Calculated Retreat and a Regular-Form Return
To Prior, this spring has yielded “more of a regular version of him”—something the Dodgers saw rarely in 2025. “Last year’s bullpens were very conservative from a velocity and intensity standpoint,” Prior said. Now, Ohtani is loosening the reigns, pushing limits that bring him closer to 100-mph peaks.
This is a player whom the Dodgers and expectations have always stretched toward the limit. He is, after all, one of only two four-time MVPs. And his two-way stardom has redefined the Dodgers’ ambitions. The 2026 season will be Ohtani’s first year “fully built up” since his re-signing last October. The Dodgers are proceeding from a stance of confident possibility, not delicate hope. This alignment of health and tactics is why the WBC hiatus is not a setback, but another step toward full-armored Ohtani.
When he finally throws his first pitch in 2026 regular season action, it will have been a product of a synchronized dormant-before-breakout buildup. And the man who struck out Trout three years ago might just exceed 100 regular, sustainable miles-per-hour before the end of April.
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