The Los Angeles Dodgers are carefully managing the return of their star Shohei Ohtani to the pitching mound, a process that has been ongoing since his elbow surgery over 18 months ago. While Ohtani has established himself as an exceptional hitter, his capabilities as a reliable pitcher remain a significant aspect of his unparalleled talent.
He has been actively working with the Dodgers coaching staff to rehabilitate his throwing arm and regain the form necessary for Major League competition.
Ohtani Talks Limitations From Los Angeles Dodgers
Ohtani has been participating in bullpen sessions as a crucial step in his recovery. Regarding his physical progress, Ohtani stated, per ESPN, “I feel pretty good with where I am at physically. There’s some limitation on how hard I am supposed to throw or how many types of pitches I’m allowed to throw. Once that’s cleared, I will be able to do all of the above. I feel pretty good about throwing live BP.”
Despite the focus on Ohtani’s eventual return to pitching, the Dodgers have started the Major League Baseball season impressively, holding a 9-3 record. Ohtani himself showcased his offensive prowess in the team’s recent game against the Washington Nationals on Monday.
In a game that occurred shortly after the Dodgers’ visit to the White House, Ohtani came remarkably close to hitting for the cycle, falling just a double short in the team’s 6-4 loss to the Nationals. He also contributed two RBIs in the contest, marking a strong bounce-back performance after a series against the Philadelphia Phillies where, in the assessment of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, he wasn’t quite as locked in.
Roberts lauded Ohtani’s performance against the Nationals, saying, “It’s kind of hard to say he was struggling, but tonight he was locked in. Even that last at-bat to earn the walk versus Finnegan and not try to chase a cycle speaks to being a team player and passing the baton. He had an excellent night.”
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It remains astonishing that Ohtani has been able to maintain such a high level of offensive production while still recovering from significant elbow surgery that has kept him off the mound. His approach at the plate, as he described it, centers on getting on base: “My approach doesn’t really change — it’s to really get on base. That fourth at-bat I really should have just taken a hack and see what happens.”
Thus far this season, the Dodgers’ designated hitter is batting .311 with four home runs and five RBIs, contributing significantly to a Dodgers team with aspirations of returning to the World Series. As the team prepared to face the Nationals again on Tuesday, Ohtani’s progress both at the plate and in his pitching rehabilitation remained a key storyline for the Los Angeles faithful.