Ohtani Pitches for First Time in Nearly Two Years
In a pivotal moment for both Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani faced batters in live batting practice at Citi Field on Sunday afternoon, marking his first time on the mound since undergoing his second elbow reconstruction in September 2023. This session represented a crucial milestone in his rehabilitation journey and his potential return as a two-way player.
After a brief six-pitch warmup, Ohtani threw a total of 22 pitches across five plate appearances against three batters, including Dodgers utility man Hyeseong Kim, catcher Dalton Rushing, and game-planning coach J.T. Watkins, who participated as a light-hearted substitute since Ohtani preferred to avoid facing a teammate who bats right-handed. Dodgers bullpen catcher Hamlet Marte served behind the plate.
Expressing his emotions post-session, Ohtani said, "I haven't thrown in a while, so it was nice to be able to feel like I was a pitcher. I just kind of remembered those days when I used to have a lot of good memories as a pitcher." His fastball reached velocities between 94 and 97 mph, showcasing a full range of pitches including four-seam fastballs, sinkers, and sliders.
Returning to His Roots
Later that day, Ohtani returned to his role as the Dodgers' designated hitter, hitting a home run against Mets starter Kodai Senga—his 18th of the season, which ties him with stars Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber for the most in Major League Baseball.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed the thrill of witnessing Ohtani pitch again, remarking, "I've gotten so used to seeing him as a hitter. And so to see him on the mound just solely as a pitcher, it was different and certainly exciting for all of us."
A Unique Rehabilitation Journey
Ohtani’s rehabilitation is unlike any other pitcher’s; he continues to hit at an elite level while working on pitching skills. He leads the National League with a .302 batting average, 17 home runs, and possesses a 1.040 OPS. His dual role complicates the timeline for his return to pitching, as the Dodgers cannot risk losing the productivity of the reigning MVP.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his pitching future, Ohtani remains confident. “I don’t expect to go on a minor league rehab assignment before making my Dodgers debut as a pitcher,” he stated. Pitching coach Mark Prior explained, “We’ve tried to take a very methodical approach to this... but to say how many times that is, I couldn’t tell you. I don’t know. But it’s going to be some time.”
An Encouraging Return
The session itself was not just about numbers but also about the atmosphere around Ohtani's return. Teammates, coaches, and dozens of reporters gathered to witness this significant event, highlighting Ohtani's immense popularity and the high expectations surrounding his comeback. In his appearances, Ohtani displayed his trademark composure, calmly fielding a hard-hit comebacker and showcasing a well-executed pitching performance.
As he walked off the field, Ohtani appeared happy and optimistic, stating, "Just really felt good overall, just looking at the overall execution. It was a really good first step, and looking forward to the next one." His next steps remain uncertain, but hope is in the air for both his pitching and hitting contributions.
Looking Ahead
As the Dodgers navigate a challenging season, marked by injuries to their pitching staff, they hope to see Ohtani return to his two-way prowess before the postseason. As Roberts mentioned, "If it kind of works out as it should, he's a top-end starter, and so that's kind of all of our expectations." With the organization leaning on Ohtani for both his bat and arm, the anticipation grows for his future outings on the mound.
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