Shohei Ohtani’s Return to the Mound: A Boost to Dodgers’ World Series Hopes
In a significant development for the Los Angeles Dodgers, superstar Shohei Ohtani has taken a major step towards his return to pitching, throwing 22 pitches to five batters in a simulated game at Citi Field on Sunday. According to NBC News, Ohtani’s progress has sparked excitement among Dodgers fans and has significant implications for the team’s World Series aspirations.
Ohtani, a two-way player who has been with the Dodgers since December 2023, has not thrown to batters off a mound in 641 days after undergoing elbow surgery in September 2023. However, the 29-year-old’s latest outing, which was observed by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, pitching coach Mark Prior, and teammates, suggests that he could be pitching in a real game soon. As quoted in the NBC News article, Ohtani expressed his satisfaction with the session, saying, “I haven’t thrown in a while, so it was nice to be able to feel like I was a pitcher… I just kind of remembered those days when I used to have a lot of good memories as a pitcher.”
The simulated game saw Ohtani throw mostly fastballs, cutters, and sinkers, with two sweepers and a sinker, and his fastball was clocked at 94-97 mph. NBC News reported that Prior was impressed with Ohtani’s performance, saying, “He looks good. He looked healthy… That’s always the main thing with facing hitters — that he feels confident, his endurance is good, he maintained his stuff. From that standpoint, it was good. Pitch movement-wise, it looked good, too.”
The Dodgers are in need of reinforcements, with three members of their Opening Day rotation, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki, out with shoulder injuries. Ohtani’s return to the mound could provide a significant boost to the team’s pitching staff, which has been one of the team’s biggest question marks. As NBC News noted, the Dodgers are currently in first place in the National League West, but only two games ahead of the San Diego Padres.
Ohtani, who leads baseball with 20 home runs this season, is the only two-way player in the league, a rare feat that requires immense physical and mental demands. As NBC News reported, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who watched Ohtani’s practice session, described him as “special,” saying, “He’s getting ready to be the leadoff hitter for the Dodgers and four hours before the first pitch, he’s throwing 95, 96 (mph) with a split… He’s having fun. That’s what the game needs, players like that. It’s just fun to be out there and watch him do his thing.”
The Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts, also expressed his excitement about Ohtani’s progress, saying, “I’ve gotten so used to seeing him as a hitter… So to see him on the mound just solely as a pitcher, it was different. And certainly exciting for all of us.” With Ohtani’s return to pitching potentially imminent, the Dodgers’ chances of winning back-to-back World Series championships have received a significant boost.
According to NBC News, Roberts believes that Ohtani will likely start pitching after the All-Star break in mid-July. As the season progresses, fans and pundits alike will be eagerly monitoring Ohtani’s progress, as his return to the mound could have a profound impact on the Dodgers’ fortunes. With his impressive performance in the simulated game, Ohtani has sent a clear message that he is ready to make a significant contribution to the team’s success.
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