Observers now consider a pitching return this season all but closed for Shohei Ohtani, according to Taiwan's United Daily News and others. The Los Angeles Dodgers manager described the position by noting his throwing last week amounted to essentially nothing.

A pitcher's return normally passes through catch, bullpen sessions, live batting practice and game appearances, with recovery checks required between stages. Skipping stages is rare.

The window narrows as the remaining schedule shrinks. When the games left cannot accommodate the preparation each stage requires, turning toward the following season rather than forcing an appearance is the usual decision.

Appearing as a hitter is a separate question. Two-way players have kept batting while preparing to pitch, but the constraint of managing arm load comes with it.

For baseball followers across Asia, the matter carries meaning beyond individual records, since evidence is accumulating on whether two-way play is sustainable over a long career.

The club's formal announcement is the next thing to check. How the team describes its rehabilitation schedule and plans for next year after the season ends offers a clue to the actual condition.