Shohei Ohtani’s eagerly awaited debut as a pitcher for theLos Angeles Dodgers may be further away than expected. Despite the fact that injuries have invaded the team’s pitching staff, it seems that the strategy may go in another direction.
Ohtani threw some bullpen sessions and it seemed that his process was moving closer to his return to the mound, after staying away for the entire 2024 season, due to undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023.
According to an article by Bob Nightendale in USA Today, it is likely that the Dodgers have decided to postpone until after May their initial plan for Ohtani’s return to the mound until after the All-Star Game, which will be on July 15, in order to take care of him a little more and count on him in the second half of the season, where they will be looking to defend their World Series title
“The Dodgers are preventing Shohei Ohtani from pitching until after the All-Star break, believing there is no point in rushing him to the mound while he continues to put up MVP numbers at the plate,” Nightendale wrote in USA Today.
Dave Roberts praises Ohtani as one of the best baseball players he has ever seen
Meanwhile, Ohtani can continue in his role as designated hitter, where so far he has a .305 batting average with 12 home runs, 20 RBIs and a 1.059 OPS, numbers that justify the praise of his manager Dave Roberts, who considers him along with Barry Bonds to be one of the best players he has ever seen.
“Between him and Barry Bonds, they’re the two best players I’ve ever seen,” said Dave Roberts. “I played with Barry. But what Shohei does in crunch time, I’ve never seen before.”
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