Shohei Ohtani likely won't make big league mound return until after All-Star break

NEW YORK (AP) — On the eve of Shohei Ohtani facing batters for the first time since elbow surgery in September 2023, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the two-way star likely won't return to a major league mound until after the All-Star break.

Ohtani is to pitch batting practice before Sunday night's series finale against the New York Mets.

“He’s doing his first simulated game for two innings and in theory you got to build a starter up to five, six innings,” Roberts said. “And so just the natural progression, I just don’t see it being before that.”

Roberts wouldn't rule out Ohtani making a minor league injury rehabilitation appearance. Normally a pitcher coming back from elbow ligament repair makes several minor league starts in the final stage of his recovery. But because Ohtani is among the top hitters in the major leagues, the defending World Series champion Dodgers wouldn't want to lose his bat for any games.

Minor league teams are off on Mondays, leaving Thursday, June 12, as the only day next month Ohtani could pitch in the minors while the Dodgers are off.

“I think anything should be on the table,” Roberts said before Saturday night’s 5-2 loss.

“It’s not going to be five minor league starts, I do know that,” Roberts explained. “I think this is just such a unique situation that there’s no one kind of blueprint. So we’re going to do this live session. I can’t even speak to if it’s going to be an up and down. ... And then we’ll see what the next week brings. If he’s going to be around, it’s going to be simulated games, but I really don’t know what that even really looks like."

Hyeseong Kim and Dalton Rushing are among the hitters likely to bat against Ohtani.

“It’s a big step getting on a mound facing hitters. Rightfully so, there’s a lot of anticipation but I think he’s really looking forward to it." Roberts said. “I’m looking for command. I just want him to get through it healthy and be willing to get to the next step.”

Ohtani had right elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023. He returned as a hitter last year after signing a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers as a free agent and won his third MVP award by batting .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases.

After shoulder surgery on Nov. 4 to repair a labrum tear sustained during the World Series, Ohtani threw four bullpens sessions at spring training from Feb. 15-25, then paused to prepare for opening day as a hitter. He resumed bullpens on March 29.

“I think up to this point he’s checked every box,” Roberts said. “You’re talking about really adding velocity — I think right now it’s been tempered or controlled. You’re talking throwing a slider to hitters, which he has only done in a bullpen. So those are two other boxes.”

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Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, reacts after striking out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Saturday, May 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, reacts after hitting a line out to center field during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Saturday, May 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani runs to first base after hitting a single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, May 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani prepares to bat during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, May 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani stands on the field during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, May 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani stands on second base during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, May 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani bats during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, May 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)