Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani plays catch as he continues his comeback from elbow surgery

CHICAGO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani played catch on Tuesday in a continuation of his throwing program in his comeback from elbow surgery.

Ohtani rejoined the Dodgers on Sunday after his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, gave birth to the couple's first child in Southern California. The two-way star is 0 for 7 with two walks and two runs scored in his last two games.

Following an off day, the 30-year-old Ohtani threw in the outfield at Wrigley Field before an 11-10 loss to the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a two-game set. He is expected to have a light bullpen session on Wednesday and a “full-blown bullpen” on Saturday, manager Dave Roberts said.

“I still don't know what the next step is,” Roberts said, “and I think once he starts facing hitters, then it'll start to become more pronounced. But right now he's still in the mode of just throwing bullpens, and he still hasn't thrown sliders yet either.”

Ohtani hasn't pitched in a major league game since Aug. 23, 2023, for the Los Angeles Angels. He is recovering from right elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023. He paused his pitching work after a mound session on Feb. 25 to prepare for opening day as a hitter.

The reigning NL MVP, who signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December 2023, is batting .264 with six homers and eight RBIs in 22 games this season.

Left-hander Blake Snell also played catch on Tuesday, and Roberts said it went well. Snell is on the 15-day injured list because of shoulder inflammation.

Tyler Glasnow remains on track to start Sunday at home against Pittsburgh. The 31-year-old right-hander left Sunday's win against the Rangers because of lower leg cramps.

“I haven't seen Glas, but from the training staff, they said that there is no more cramping,” Roberts said before the loss to the Cubs. “As we traveled here to Chicago he was fine.”

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) stands in the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after striking out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17), left, and Mookie Betts (50) celebrate after scoring on a double from Freddie Freeman during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) strikes out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts to striking out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) sits in the dugout during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) returns to the dugout before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) warms before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) warms before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) warms before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) warms before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) warms before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) warms before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) warms before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois landlord found guilty of a vicious hate crime that left a 6-year-old Muslim boy dead and wounded his mother days after the start of the war in Gaza in 2023 was due in court Friday for sentencing.

A jury convicted 73-year-old Joseph Czuba in February of murder and hate crime charges in the fatal stabbing of Wadee Alfayoumi, who was Palestinian American, and the wounding of his mother, Hanan Shaheen. The family had been renting rooms in Czuba’s home in Plainfield, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Chicago, in 2023 when the attack happened.

Central to prosecutors' case was harrowing testimony from the boy’s mother, who said Czuba attacked her before moving on to her son, insisting they had to leave because they were Muslim. Prosecutors also played the 911 call and showed police footage. Czuba's wife, Mary, whom he has since divorced, also testified for the prosecution, saying he had become agitated about the Israel-Hamas war, which had erupted days earlier.

Police said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the child's body. Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so explicit that the judge agreed to turn television screens showing them away from the audience, which included Wadee's relatives.

“He could not escape,” Michael Fitzgerald, a Will County assistant state’s attorney, told jurors at trial. “If it wasn’t enough that this defendant killed that little boy, he left the knife in the little boy’s body.”

The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before returning a verdict. Czuba is eligible for a minimum prison sentence of 20 to 60 years or life, according to the Will County state's attorney's office.

Prosecutors declined to comment ahead of Friday's hearing and have not said what sentence they will seek. Illinois does not have the death penalty.

The attack renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and hit particularly hard in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community. Wadee's funeral drew large crowds and Plainfield officials have dedicated a park playground in his honor.

Czuba did not speak during the trial. His defense attorneys argued that there were holes in the case. His public defender, George Lenard, has not addressed reporters and declined comment ahead of the sentencing.

Shaheen had more than a dozen stab wounds and it took her weeks to recover.

She said there were no prior issues in the two years she rented from the Czubas, even sharing a kitchen and a living room.

Then after the start of the war, Czuba told her that they had to move out because Muslims were not welcome. He later confronted Shaheen and attacked her, holding her down, stabbing her and trying to break her teeth.

“He told me ‘You, as a Muslim, must die,’” said Shaheen, who testified in English and Arabic though a translator.

Police testified that officers found Czuba outside the house, sitting on the ground with blood on his body and hands.

Separately, lawsuits have been filed over the boy’s death, including by his father, Odai Alfayoumi, who is divorced from Shaheen and was not living with them. The U.S. Department of Justice also launched a federal hate crimes investigation.

FILE - Joseph Czuba, 71, stands before Circuit Judge Dave Carlson for his arraignment at the Will County, Ill., courthouse, Oct. 30, 2023, in Joliet, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)