Los Angeles Dodgers’ Superstar Shohei Ohtani will make his long-awaited return to the mound Monday night, marking the end of a 664-day hiatus from pitching. But while his right arm healed, his bat never left the lineup.
Here’s how Ohtani managed to remain one of baseball’s top offensive forces — even during rehab:
🔁 New Rule, Dual Impact
- Thanks to a 2022 rule change, Ohtani can now remain in the lineup as DH even after he’s done pitching in a game.
- That means even as a limited-inning pitcher, his bat will stay in the order, maximizing his impact.
⚾ Shohei Ohtani’s Relentless Offensive Presence
- Since signing with the Dodgers in the 2023-24 offseason, Ohtani has served as the designated hitter in 229 of the team’s last 234 games.
- During that span, he’s posted a monster stat line:
.306/.391/.645 slash line, 79 HR, 70 SB, and 12.8 WAR. - He earned his second consecutive MVP award (his first in the National League), despite not throwing a single pitch last season.
🏥 Rehab on His Terms
- After elbow surgery in Sept. 2023 (his second UCL-related procedure), Ohtani opted not to take the conventional pitcher-only rehab route.
- He continued to hit throughout the process — which slowed down his pitching progression, per manager Dave Roberts.
- A torn labrum in his left shoulder (suffered during the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series run) further delayed his return to the mound.
🧢 What It Means
- Few — if any — players could sustain MVP-level offensive output while rehabbing as a pitcher.
- Ohtani’s constant presence in the lineup gave the Dodgers both power and production, even as his return to the mound remained uncertain.
- Now that he’s back to pitching, the Dodgers don’t have to choose between elite bat or arm — they get both.
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