In Glendale, Arizona (AP) – The highly-acclaimed Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder and pitcher, Shohei Ohtani, took a pivotal step in his journey back to the pitching mound during his recent bullpen session at spring training. This significant development potentially paves the way for Ohtani’s return to the pitching role for the first time since 2023.
As the reigning World Series champion and National League MVP, Ohtani last pitched in a major league game on August 23, 2023, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. Following this, the talented right-hander underwent elbow surgery, which restricted him to a hitting position during his inaugural season with the Dodgers in 2024.
After engaging in flat ground throwing sessions earlier in the week, Ohtani eagerly anticipated the opportunity to showcase his skills on the pitcher’s mound during the bullpen session.
Despite this promising progress, the Dodgers have decided to exclude Ohtani as a pitching option for their upcoming games in Tokyo, located approximately 280 miles south of his hometown in Japan, where they are scheduled to face the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19.
Expressing his optimism, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts mentioned that he is hopeful for Ohtani’s swift clearance to resume pitching duties, stressing the importance of his return to the team.
Ohtani, aged 30, disclosed that he introduced a new pitch, a sweeper, into his repertoire for the first time during a recent practice session, complementing his existing pitching arsenal. Concurrently, the talented athlete continues to recuperate from a partially torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, sustained during a sliding incident in the World Series. While Ohtani has managed to participate in hitting drills, he acknowledged the limitations in his range of motion due to the injury.
During the previous season, Ohtani showcased exceptional endurance by appearing in 159 out of 162 games as the team’s designated hitter. His remarkable performance secured him his third MVP accolade, marking his first win in the National League. Additionally, Ohtani made history by becoming the first baseball player to achieve membership in the exclusive 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and successfully stealing 59 bases.
Concluding his remarkable year in 2024, Ohtani was honored with The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year award for the third time, equalling the prestigious achievement of legendary basketball icon, Michael Jordan. This accolade places Ohtani in esteemed company alongside four-time recipients Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, and LeBron James.
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