The Los Angeles Dodgers offseason retains getting higher.
It isn’t typically that the reigning Nationwide League MVP has rather more to show after delivering a title in his first season with the workforce, however it’s not typically that the sports activities world has seen a expertise like Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani executed every thing requested of him and a lot extra in his innagural season sporting a Dodgers uniform, however whereas recovering from a UCL harm in his elbow, the MVP was ‘restricted’ to simply hitting in 2024.
The restrictions had been removed from palpable as Ohtani turned the primary participant in MLB historical past to hit 50 or extra dwelling runs whereas stealing 50 or extra bases on the street to main L.A. to a World Collection.
It’s arduous to think about that Ohtani had his historic marketing campaign final 12 months within the midst of recovering from a second surgical procedure on his pitching elbow 17 months in the past, however that simply provides much more to his legend.
As he continues to put in writing one other chapter in his mind-boggling baseball profession, Ohtani is already throwing bullpen periods at Camelback Ranch as he seems to pitch for the Dodgers in 2025.
It wasn’t his first bullpen since 2023, however after present process one other surgical procedure to his non-throwing shoulder in Nov. 2024, many across the baseball world puzzled if his kind would change in consequence. Pitching coach Mark Prior famous that there have been no hiccups in anyway.
“It’s loopy to suppose that this man had surgical procedure on his left shoulder in November. He doesn’t appear like he’s missed a beat,” Prior mentioned. “There’s not loads of issues that, a minimum of, type of shock me. However he seems actually good. And that’s stunning for a man who’s had a surgical procedure. I do know it’s not his throwing shoulder, however it doesn’t appear like his left shoulder has been impacted, a minimum of visually to the bare eye.”
Supervisor Dave Roberts additionally remarked on Ohtani’s kind.
“I’ve seen him throw a handful of bullpens (whereas rehabbing final 12 months)”, mentioned Roberts. “However to see him out right here in spring coaching alongside the opposite pitchers, to see him simply as a pitcher in that individual second, was a actuality verify for me. It was type of completely different seeing him in that context. Seeing different pitchers watch him and ‘dap’ him up after his ’pen was good to see.”
The most recent Ohtani replace bodes properly for his imminent two-way debut with the Dodgers.
Photograph Credit score: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Pictures
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