Shohei Ohtani is terrifying pitchers not only with his bat but also by competing head-to-head with Aaron Judge at the top of the offensive stats. Even more exciting is his highly anticipated return to the mound, which is just around the corner. Everything points to him dominating the game once again as a complete threat.
The Japanese star made significant progress in his rehabilitation process by incorporating breaking pitches into a recent bullpen session, suggesting that his return as a pitcher is imminent.
During his recovery from a second Tommy John surgery in September 2023,Ohtani limited himself to fastballs and splitters. Now, with the addition of sliders to his repertoire, he is entering a promising new phase in his evolution as a pitcher.
The Dodgers have everything under control
They remain one of the most powerful teams in the MLB, but injuries to their pitching staff have impacted their performance early in the season.
With a 4.16 ERA, they rank among the league’s worst in this category. However, their offense has responded strongly, ranking second in the league in runs scored and keeping the team competitive.
“The team is encouraged by its progress, and the Dodgers are eager for the return of their top starters. However, they will delay Ohtani’s return to the mound,” wrote Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.
The plan is a “slow play” approach, and with good reason: Shohei Ohtani is recovering from a complicated injury.
Since undergoing surgery in August 2023, Ohtani has not pitched; however, he won the National League MVP in 2024. This season, he is batting .304 with 17 home runs and 31 RBIs. The Dodgers want him back on the mound but prefer to proceed with caution to protect their star player, the perfect plan.
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