Shohei Ohtani is setting his sights on returning to the mound after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2023. The star pitcher and hitter, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, shared on Wednesday that he plans to throw a bullpen session this weekend as part of his rehabilitation process.

Ohtani’s Recovery Journey

Ohtani’s path to recovery has had its challenges.

After the surgery on his elbow, he couldn’t pitch last season but still made waves with an outstanding performance as a hitter with the Dodgers.

His goal is to pitch again in the majors by May.

While his arm is steadily improving, he’s still dealing with some discomfort in his left shoulder.

This injury stems from surgery after the World Series, where he hurt it during Game 2.

Talking about his shoulder, Ohtani explained through his interpreter, “It’s just a limited range of motion.

I’ve gone through it with the elbow before, and with the shoulder, it’s a little bit more complicated. I do believe that’s the part that I have to be patient with.”

Dodgers Manager Discusses Ohtani’s Pitching Plans

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed Ohtani’s recovery and future plans.

He confirmed that Ohtani will not pitch during spring training and will not participate in any minor league rehab assignments.

Additionally, once Ohtani returns to both pitching and hitting, adjustments to his workload will be necessary.

This could include taking rest days as the designated hitter and possibly reducing his base-stealing activity to manage his recovery effectively.

Ohtani’s Spectacular First Year with the Dodgers

In his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani had a record-breaking year as a hitter.

He posted career highs in several categories, including batting .310 with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, 134 runs, 197 hits, and 59 stolen bases.

His performance was a key part of his team’s success, and his potential return to the mound adds even more excitement to the upcoming season.

Manager Roberts Weighs in on Ohtani’s Role Moving Forward

Roberts acknowledged Ohtani’s unique ability to both pitch and hit at an elite level.

He noted, “As far as the pitching vs. hitting, he’s done it before.

He’s had big years doing both. We haven’t gotten there yet as far as what he’s comfortable with, what he feels good about.”

The manager added that their approach to Ohtani’s playing time and workload will require some flexibility and adjustments moving forward, recognizing the complexities of balancing both roles.

Injuries to Dodgers Pitchers and Ohtani’s New Contract

Meanwhile, two other Dodgers pitchers, right-handed relievers Evan Phillips (shoulder) and Michael Kopech (forearm), are reportedly behind schedule and may start the season on the 15-day injured list, according to Roberts.

Ohtani’s signing with the Dodgers marked a historic moment in baseball.

Last offseason, he agreed to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract with the team, making it the largest sports contract at the time, only to be surpassed by Juan Soto’s $765 million deal with the New York Mets after the World Series.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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