At the start of Spring Training, Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani offered an update on his injury that has plagued him since last year and also commented that he hopes to return as a pitcher in the coming months. It is worth remembering that last year he was the team’s designated hitter while recovering from ulnar collateral ligament surgery and where he has not had a rehabilitation session as such.
Manager Dave Roberts does not plan for the pitcher to take the mound during spring training and will keep him as a designated hitter. Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani spoke to the media to report on his current situation and stressed that he is not worried about injury despite not having been in rehab.
“I actually did it in the past when I had my last injury, so I’m not too worried about it. It’s just about confirming the actual look and feel as we go through different stages. That’s my main concern,” Ohtani said.
Injuries are not an unfamiliar subject for the Japanese baseball player and he has a better understanding of how to manage it. He commented that he is focused on improving his arm, but knows that there is no rush to return once the current MLB champion has an excellent repertoire of pitchers.
One of the most anticipated topics for the 2025 campaign is the return of Shohei Ohtani to the mound. Everyone wants to see him take on the role of pitcher and hitter that has thrilled MLB fans around the world. In recent days, he loosened his arm prior to camp and looked impressive. He was reaching between 92 and 94 mph with his fastball and looked balanced at all times.
When Shohei Ohtani was traded from the Angels to the Dodgers in 2024, he arrived with an arm injury, so he has not been seen as a pitcher at Dodger Stadium. His performance was focused solely as a hitter while Los Angeles fans wait to see him back on the mound.
How has Shohei Ohtani performed as a pitcher?
The numbers left by Ohtani as a pitcher at the end of his last season with the Los Angeles Angels was an ERA of 3.01, where he marked 608 strikeouts for 173 walks. He had a total of 86 games (all starts) with a record of 38 wins and 19 losses.
Read the full article here
