Dodgers News: Injury updates on Shohei Ohtani, Dustin May, Blake Treinen

Dodgers spring training workouts are in full swing, with the team slated to play their first game against the Padres on Feb. 22. There have been a few thrilling moments already — Shohei Ohtani taking his first live BP and hitting a home run off of JP Feyereisen, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto receiving a standing ovation from Mookie Betts after throwing a live BP.

These Dodgers are looking strong, but lurking in the background are a few longstanding injury concerns that could keep some key players off the field as the team wades into spring games. Nothing seems too concerning; Ohtani is still on the road to recovery from Tommy John, but seems well on his way to being ready by Opening Day, and the Dodgers have also dropped some promising hints about Dustin May's return.

Injury updates were a huge part of Presidents' Day weekend, and they'll give fans a better idea of what to expect from the team not only this Thursday, but throughout the regular season.

Dodgers News: Shohei Ohtani will not appear in Cactus League opener

Despite the thrill of watching Ohtani hit a home run in BP this past weekend, we'll have to wait a little longer to see him do it in a live game. Dave Roberts said that Ohtani won't play on Thursday against the Padres, but added that he could be ready for some at-bats later on in camp, and all parties are still optimistic that he'll be ready to go for the Seoul Series.

As their marquee player, the Dodgers are giving Ohtani some extra grace as he comes back from injury, allowing him to take on training as he sees fit. However, with the amount of workout videos that have been circulating ever since he reported, Ohtani seems more determined than anyone to get back onto the field as soon as possible.

Dustin May could be back by August

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported that Dustin May, long embattled with injury, hopes to be pitching again by August (subscription required). In five seasons with the Dodgers, May has never pitched over 60 big-league innings in any one year. Both he and the Dodgers still seem set on getting him healthy and back on the mound, and Ardaya also reported that May is no longer experiencing the elbow discomfort that plagued him after Tommy John.

May shared his first workout video in late January, alluding to it being his first throwing session after surgery on a flexor tendon and a Tommy John revision last year. Ardaya also noted that the Dodgers aren't making plans around May, and with Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw also slated to make returns this season, they're in no rush to push him back onto the mound.

Blake Treinen and JP Feyereisen should be ready to go by Opening Day

Neither Treinen nor Feyereisen appeared in a game for the Dodgers in 2023. Both underwent labrum and rotator cuff surgery in 2022, with 10-month recovery timelines. However, they've both thrown bullpen sessions in spring training and should be ready by Opening Day.

Treinen has been with the Dodgers since 2020 and has a proven track record of greatness with LA. In 2021, he pitched 72 innings out of the bullpen for a 1.99 ERA. Feyereisen is less of a known commodity; he came over from the Rays in 2022 after being DFA'ed, then traded for a minor league pitcher. However, he did throw 24 nearly spotless innings for the Rays in 2022, only giving up seven hits.

Neither is expected to take on the workload that, say, Evan Phillips or Brusdar Graterol will get throughout the season, but having them back can only spell good things for the Dodgers.