Shohei Ohtani had a remarkable performance in the initial five months of the 2023 season. During that time, he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels and achieved 44 home runs with an impressive 1.066 OPS. Additionally, he displayed exceptional skills as a pitcher. Unfortunately, in late-August to early-September, he received the diagnosis of an oblique strain and a torn UCL. As a consequence, he will be unable to pitch in 2024 for his new team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his offseason training has been affected. Unlike many players who have been in top form for weeks, Ohtani’s progress has been slower.
Recently, Dodgers insider Fabian Ardaya shared a video on Twitter featuring Ohtani’s first swing on the field after his elbow surgery. This signifies a significant milestone in his recovery process. Last week, Ohtani mentioned that he had resumed swinging at full effort and that his next step would involve facing live pitching or using a high-velocity pitching machine. It appears that he and his team chose the former option, as he was observed swinging against live pitching at Dodgers camp on Monday. Although Ohtani might be slightly behind his teammates in terms of progress, witnessing him swing the bat is incredibly encouraging and a promising indication of what is to come.
The Dodgers are aware that they will have to wait until 2025 to witness Ohtani’s pitching prowess. However, they are prepared to eagerly watch him excel as a hitter, dominating opposing pitchers.
According to the Source thecoldwire.com