Two months have already passed by within the 2025 MLB season, however there may be nonetheless a glimmer of hope that Shohei Ohtani will return as a pitcher in some unspecified time in the future throughout it.
The Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Ohtani will progress this weekend to dealing with reside hitters, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported on Friday. Ardaya notes that that is the very first time that Ohtani will face reside hitters since his September 2023 surgical procedure on his proper elbow.
Ohtani, who turns 31 years previous in July, has not pitched in any respect for the Dodgers ever since his arrival earlier than the 2024 season. The Dodgers are additionally exercising important warning with Ohtani, particularly since that is his second main surgical procedure on his throwing elbow (after a 2018 Tommy John process).
The four-time MLB All-Star Ohtani continues to be a world-beater, at the same time as only a one-way participant in the intervening time. Because the Dodgers’ full-time designated hitter, Ohtani received the NL MVP final 12 months on the power of MLB’s first-ever 50-homer, 50-stolen base season. Ohtani continues to be ripping this season as properly with 17 residence runs and 31 RBIs on a .304/.398/.655 slash line by 48 video games.
As for his standing on the mound, Ohtani just lately progressed to throwing bullpen classes and is reportedly sitting at round 94-95 mph on his fastballs whereas incorporating some breaking balls in there as properly. You possibly can learn Ardaya’s full report on the scenario here.
The Dodgers have largely been mum on Ohtani’s progress in the direction of a pitching return, particularly manager Dave Roberts’ most recent comments on the topic. However the expectation is that Ohtani will probably be again on the hill in some unspecified time in the future after the All-Star break with an final objective of being at full power as a pitcher for the postseason.
