Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani on track to play in Dodgers opener

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is introduced at DodgerFest at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Exactly when Ohtani will be ready to pitch in the majors again remains unclear, as the two-way star completes the final stages of his recovery from a 2023 Tommy John surgical revision.

But roughly three months removed from a separate shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum he suffered in the World Series, Ohtani said he is “on schedule” in his rehab as a hitter, maintaining confidence he will be in the lineup as the designated hitter when the season begins in Tokyo next month.

“The offseason felt short, and obviously with the surgery, it was even shorter,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “But as of now, it seems like I’m on schedule. I’ve been able to work out every day. And I’m really looking forward to being on time for spring training.”

The bigger question is when Ohtani, who didn’t pitch last season while rehabbing his elbow, will return to the mound. He said it’s too early to “pinpoint when exactly” and that much will depend on how he feels once he starts throwing bullpen sessions in spring training.

Manager Dave Roberts said the team is hoping to have Ohtani rejoin the rotation by May, but it “might be earlier.”

“Once he gets to spring training and we see where the throwing program is, I’ll think we’ll just go from there,” Roberts said.