Shohei Ohtani hits 94 mph in first bullpen session of spring training as Dodgers star continues recover
For the first time since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani has taken a significant step towards returning to his role as a two-way player. The Japanese superstar has been rehabbing from major elbow surgery he underwent towards the end of the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Angels. Despite being limited to designated hitter duties in 2024, Ohtani still managed to win the National League Most Valuable Player award and help the Dodgers win the World Series.
Ohtani’s journey back to being a two-way player has been a long and challenging one. After signing a massive $700 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, Ohtani has been working tirelessly to regain his strength and endurance as a pitcher. While he did throw some bullpen sessions late last year, he never progressed to the point where he was considered a serious contender to come out of the bullpen in the playoffs.
However, with the start of the 2025 season approaching, Ohtani has taken a significant step towards returning to his role as a pitcher. On Saturday, he threw 14 pitches off a mound in his first bullpen session of the year. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, all of Ohtani’s pitches were fastballs, sitting between 92-94 miles per hour.
While Ohtani’s progress is certainly encouraging, the Dodgers are taking a cautious approach to his rehab. The team is planning to have him ready to join the rotation sometime in May, which will give him ample time to build up his strength and endurance as a pitcher.
One of the challenges that Ohtani and the Dodgers will face is balancing his workload as a pitcher with his responsibilities as a designated hitter. Unlike other players who are rehabbing from injuries, Ohtani will not have the luxury of taking a minor-league rehab stint to get back up to speed. Instead, he will have to rely on simulated games and bullpen sessions to get ready for the season.
Despite the challenges, Ohtani and the Dodgers are confident that he can make a successful return to being a two-way player. As Roberts noted, Ohtani has come back from Tommy John surgery before, and he has a proven track record of success as a pitcher. In 2023, Ohtani went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 167 strikeouts against 55 walks in 132 innings.
To accommodate Ohtani’s unique situation, the Dodgers plan to be “creative” with their rotation. This may involve using a six-man rotation at times, or possibly even skipping Ohtani a start or two on the mound while keeping him as the everyday designated hitter.
In the latter role, Ohtani was nothing short of spectacular last season. He hit .310/.390/.646 (190 OPS+) with 38 doubles, seven triples, 54 homers, 130 RBI, 134 runs, 59 steals, and 9.2 WAR. His impressive performance earned him his third MVP award in four seasons, and he finished second in the year he didn’t win.
As Ohtani continues to work his way back to being a two-way player, the Dodgers are excited to see what the future holds for their star player. With his unique combination of skills and abilities, Ohtani has the potential to be a game-changer for the Dodgers, and his return to the rotation will be a major storyline to watch in the 2025 season.
